The San Francisco Giants have made a few moves on the free agent market, but should be far from done.
So far, Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris have focused on starting pitching, bringing back Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood (reportedly) while adding veteran right-hander Alex Cobb (also reportedly). That gives San Francisco a four-man rotation that also includes young ace Logan Webb.
The Giants are going to add to that group according to Giants beat writer Kerry Crowley, but a move at the top of the market is probably unlikely.
“I don’t necessarily know that they’ll do something before the lockout in terms of starting pitching, but I think they’ll remain active on the free agent market,” Crowley said on KNBR Tuesday. “Maybe not at the top of it post lockout, so maybe you’re looking at a guy like James Paxton coming off injury looking to reset his market. Danny Duffy, there’s a number of left-handers out there. Yusei Kikuchi is one who might generate some interest from the Giants.
“I tend to think that they are going to be looking in the trade market post-lockout. The Oakland A’s certainly match up as a team where the Giants could help them out and the A’s could help them out, and there could be a match there with a Chris Bassett, Franke Montas or Sean Manea. No shortage of options. The Miami Marlins also represent a good trade partner. Maybe Tyler Mahle of the Cincinnati Reds.
“I think Farhan and Scott will remain active, just not in the next 24 hours.”
Crowley also believes the Giants will have to make a move for at least one more right-handed bat, especially with the absence of Buster Posey. Going after another catcher seems less likely.
“It’s an interesting dilemma, because you have to make up for the production of Buster Posey, but I don’t know that you have to do it at the catcher position. I think that you can probably move forward with Joey Bart, Curt Casali and maybe a third option, a journeyman who is coming through the minor leagues, ready to help and maybe coming from outside the organization on a minor-league contract.
“I do think you are right on with the right-handed hitting. They need at least one and probably two impact right-handed hitters, and with the DH likely coming to the National League, I think Nick Castellanos would be a great fit in San Francisco. He had a career-high .360 on-base percentage last year. You look at the Japanese phenom Seiya Suzuki who’s been posted at week ago so he’ll have potentially three weeks after this lockout to secure a deal with teams. He’s got really high on-base percentages and a power profile
“But there’s no question that when you are replacing Buster Posey, you need a veteran like Castellanos, you need someone who can hit in the third, fourth or fifth spot in your order like Castellanos or Suzuki, and you are going to need a clubhouse presence as well. Maybe they get that from Curt Casali, maybe Joey Bart develops into an immediate clubhouse presence just by nature of the position he plays, dealing with all of the pitchers he’ll deal with.
“You’re looking at three different holes to plug there, that’s why someone like Castellanos at the top of the free agent market should really intrigue the Giants.”
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