In 2024, the SF Giants want to make a difference. They have just finished two mediocre seasons in which they were unable to advance to the postseason and at times played baseball that many fans found dull and uninspired.
The Giants intended to send a message to fans and free agents that they are not willing to settle for mediocrity when they fired Gabe Kapler and hired Bob Melvin as manager.
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They have not been successful in their free agent chases thus far, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani have both signed deals with the Dodgers.
However, the Giants did make a wise acquisition in Jung Hoo Lee, a KBO star who, one can only hope, will be a productive and exciting player for the team for many years to come.
However, the Giants still have time in the offseason to strengthen their roster and address some of the areas where they have fallen short over the past few seasons.
The Giants have a ton of free agents and trades to make in order to improve and become a more entertaining club to watch.
For the past two offseasons, Farhan Zaidi and the San Francisco Giants have made this a priority. The Giants failed to meet their goal during the previous offseason. Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto’s signings caused the team to lose agility and become sluggish.
To this end, Jung Hoo Lee’s signing ought to contribute. Lee is expected to be a leadoff hitter and a reliable center fielder who can get on base frequently. He undoubtedly displayed strong defensive abilities while he was a KBO player.
Still, the Giants are a sluggish club overall. Not even close, they stole the fewest bases throughout the previous season.
In addition, their outfielders’ limited range rendered them a far poorer defensive unit.
The value of having youthful, quick outfielders who can seemingly track anything down in the outfield was demonstrated by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the previous season.
The Giants might fill this need by signing defensive outfielder Cody Bellinger, but he may demand a large, risky, and protracted contract in free agency.
Although Harrison Bader is a strong defender and quick player, his offensive limitations probably prohibit him from being an everyday starter. Harrison Bader is also available in free agency at a much lower cost.
Another choice is Matt Chapman. He would not only improve the Giants’ defense but also offer them more speed on the bases, something the team has been lacking lately. He is also a very good baserunner.
The Giants could become more athletic in the future thanks to some of the younger players currently on the team. Two guys that immediately spring to mind who displayed their athletic prowess last year are Luis Matos and Tyler Fitzgerald.
If the Giants play their cards correctly in 2024, they can make significant progress in the right way, even though they won’t suddenly become the quickest and most athletic club.