Welcome to the final month before opening day! I hope you have been enjoying spring training as much as I have. Baseball is close, like two weeks away close! I am overjoyed! March began the official Ball Boy Blog previews of all 30 teams. The previews feature all the Free Agent signings, trades, NRI, bold predictions, and some cool fun facts at the end! We are starting at the top of the 2020 ranks and working our way down from best to worst! Enjoy!
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NL Team: San Francisco Giants
Last Year Record: 29-31, finished 3rd in the NL West
Record x2.7: 78.3-83.7
Vegas Projected: Vegas has the Giants projected to win 75.5 games. However, I think the Giants are better than most of us think they are. I have them projected to win 82 games this season and finish in 3rd place in the NL West by a significant margin over the Rockies by 12 games and D backs by 17. However, they do fall about 20 games short of the Padres and 23 of the Dodgers.
Impact Departures:
Departed Free Agents:
SP Drew Smyly(0.4WAR), RHP Jeff Samardzija(DFA), RHP Trevor Cahill(FA), LHP Tony Watson(FA), RHP Melvin Adon, C Chadwick Tromp, RHP Rico Garcia, 3B Daniel Robertson, LHP Tyler Anderson
Traded:
RHP Shaun Anderson
Key Arrivals
Free Agent Signings:
-SP Kevin Gausman accepted his QO. In 2020 he posted a 3.62ERA/3.09FIP over 59.2IP with 79K.
- LHRP Jose Alvarez to a deal. The 32yo has a career 3.59ERA/3.85SIERA in 340.2IP; he only threw 6.1IP in 2020 due to a groin injury.
-RHP Shun Yamaguchi- The 33yo previously played 14 seasons in the NPB with a 3.35ERA over 427G. The transition to the MLB wasn't great as he posted an 8.06ERA/6.43FIP over 25.2IP. The risk/reward could be an excellent one. The Giants are going to let Yamaguchi compete for a spot in the rotation.
-RHP Aaron Sanchez to a 1yr deal worth $4mil and $2.5 in incentives. Since his all-star season in 2016 with the Blue Jays, he has a 5.29ERA/5.12FIP over 55starts and 272.1IP. Sanchez wants a rotation spot, and his 47.8% groundball rate might get him such.
-INF Tommy La Stella- The trade from the Angels to the A's ended the year with a .281/.370/.449 slash in 228PA. La Stella fills the need for a lefty bat and a top-of-the-order option.
-SP Alex Wood- Wood had a tough couple of seasons in 2019; he battled back issues and only pitched 35.2IP of 5.80ERA. The Dodgers signed him one year ago, and he struggled with shoulder problems and only tossed 12.2IP with 9ER. He rebounded nicely in the World Series, pitching 6.2IP with 1R, 8K, and 3BB.
-SP Anthony Desclafani- The 30yo RHP posted a dismal 7.22ERA/6.10FIP over 33.2IP during the 2020 season.
-C Curt Casali- Over the past three seasons, he has slashed .260/.345/.440 slash over 485PA.
-RP Matt Wisler- In 2020 with the Twins, the 28yo posted a 1.07ERA/3.35FIP with 35K and a 13.9% swinging-strike rate over 25.1IP. Wisler likes to get into trouble with his 5.0BB/9 and the fact he stranded 99% of runners be allowed.
-RHRP Jake McGee- The 34yo was great with the Dodgers in their world series run last season as he pitched to a 2.66ERA/1.81SIERA over 20.1IP.
Traded For:
OF LaMonte Wade Jr.- Wade jr. hit .211/.336/.347 in 113PA between 2019-20.
Rule 5 Draft Selections:
RHSP Dedniel Nunez- The 24yo has three seasons of MiLB experience thus far in his young career, reaching High-A ball. Over his three seasons, he owns a 4.47ERA, 4.96RA/9, 1.31WHIP, 176K-55BB over 165IP. Nunez is one of many selected from the draft that hasn't played above the High-A level and will attempt to leap the MLB. Nunez should factor into the rotation/pen mix.
Claims:
RHP Ashton Goudeau(3/18)- the 28yo made his MLB debut with the Rockies with 8ER over 7.1IP.
RHP Jordan Humphreys- The 24yo, 18th round pick in 2015 has yet to get above High-A ball. He underwent TJ surgery in 2017, which has delayed him. He does have a 2.60ERA over 169.2IP in the minors.
Key NRI:
LHP Scott Kazmir, the 37, hasn't pitched in the MLB for almost five seasons. Kazmir owns a 4.01ERA, SIERA, and FIP in his career. In recent bullpen sessions, he hit 91-93MPH on his fastball.
RHP Jeremy Walker- Walker made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2019 with 2ER, 6K, 4BB over 9.1IP with a 57.1% groundball rate.
RHRP Nick Tropeano- The 30yo pitched to a shiny 1.15ERA/3.32SIERA over 15.2IP with the Pirates. He posted a career-best 28.8K% and 6.1BB%
RHP Zack Littell- The 25yo has thrown 63.2IP over the last three seasons and has a 4.52ERA with a 49:23K-BB ratio.
RHP James Sherfy- In his career, he owns a 2.98ERA/3.82FIP over 45.1IP at the MLB level.
RHP Dominic Leone- Leone has struggled in his two seasons with the Cardinals due to injuries. In those two seasons, he posted a 5.15ERA/4.77FIP over 64.2IP.
RHP Silvino Bracho- Pitched well in 2018 with the D Backs having a 3.19ERA/3.26FIP over 31IP. He did miss all of 2019 due to TJ surgery and only had 1IP in 2020 with the Giants. The 28yo is technically controllable through 2023 if he makes the MLB roster and a spot in pen.
RHP Jay Jackson- Across parts of the last four seasons in the NPB, including 2020, recorded a 2.16ERA over 183IP. Jackson will be one to keep your eye on coming out of the pen.
UTL Arismendy Alcantara- He has appeared in 167MLB games with a slash line .189/.285/.315, he can play 2B, SS, 3B, and all 3 OF spots, and he is a career .273/.326/.468 hitter at AAA.
C Chadwick Tromp, after being non-tendered he resigned on a minors deal. The 25yo played in 19 games for the team in 2020 and slashed .213/.219/.426 in 64PA. Defensively for Tromp, he threw out 2/6 runners stealing and finished in 67th percentile as a pitch framer. Tromp will look to provide quality depth behind Buster Posey and Joey Bart.
NRI:
RHP Melvin Adon, RHP Daniel Alvarez, RHP Yunior Marte, RHP Raffi Vizcaino, RHP Sam Wolff, LHP Sam Long, OF Jason Krizan, RHP Rico Garcia, LHP Anthony Banda,
MiLB deal: 1B Justin Bour, 1B Justin Smoak
Tendered:
OF Alex Dickerson, LHP Jarlin Garcia, OF Austin Slater, RHP Trever Gott, LHP Wandy Peralta
Selected Contracts
Of Alexander Canario, RHP Kervin Castro, RHP Camilo Doval, RHP Gregory Santos
Returning from IL:
OF Alex Dickerson(Paternity), C Chadwick Tromp, RHP Sam Coonrod, OF Luis Alexander Basabe, RHP Trevor Gott, RHP Tyler Beede, RHP Reyes Moronta, C Buster Posey(Restricted list),
Prospect Watch in Camp:
-The Rookie I got my eye on is C Joey Bart. With Buster Posey coming back for 2021, which is the last year of his contract. We could see him at 1B more while Bart takes over behind the plate. In 103AB in 2020, he posted a 0.3WAR .233/.288/.320 slash. He also only caught 18% of runners stealing, allowed two past balls, two errors, and 0DRs. With Posey back in the picture, Bart has a great mentor next to him.
-The former NC trio of SS Will Wilson, LHP Nick Swiney, and Patrick Bailey are all on the field together in Giants camp, and each could play a vital role for the Giants in only a couple of seasons.
Fantasy Impact Players
Pitchers- Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto,
Position- C Buster Posey, 1B Brandon Belt, 3B Evan Longoria, SS Brandon Crawford, OF Mike Yastrzemski, OF Alex Dickerson
Upcoming 2022 Free Agents:
-Both Johnny Cueto and Buster Posey carry a $22mil club option next winter. Both will be over 35, and I am sure the Giants would love to reinvest that $44mil elsewhere. Wilmer Flores and Jose Alvarez also carry club options
-We will also see Kevin Gausman, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Anthony Desclafani, Donovan Solano, and Alex Wood each be available on the open market next winter.
-Scott Kazmir, Aaron Sanchez will also be free agents, should they make the team.
Storylines to follow
-The NRI to watching in the camp are RHP Jay Jackson, RHP Zack Littell. Jackson has spent parts of the last four seasons in the NPB pitching to a 2.16ERA over 183IP. Littell has a strong 49:23 K-BB ratio in 63.2IP in parts of the last three seasons. Both should be vital factors in the bullpen mix this spring.
-How will Posey look back in action after taking 2021 off. Will Bart take the mantle from him?
-INF Jason Volser and LaMonte Wade Jr. are both getting work around the diamond in spring camp. Volser has been used all around the INF and in LF. While Wade has played all three OF positions and some 1B. We all know by now how Farhan Zaidi likes his flexibility on his roster.
Bold Predictions
-I am crazy about 30yo Mike Yastrzemski. After posting a 2.7WAR, .297/.400/.568 slash in 192AB for the Giants in 2020. I do not doubt that Yaz is the best player on the team. Do not sleep on Yaz as one of the best late bloomers in all the MLB. One of the most extensive breakouts is coming.
-The most crucial rebound candidate is Anthony Desclafani. Coming off 2020, in which he posted a 7.22ERA/6.10FIP in 33.2IP, the righty will need to find his groove in the bay. The 2019 3.89ERA/4.43FIP over 166.2IP paint a better picture of who DeSclafani is as a pitcher. I am considering 2020 an outlier for him, and I have faith in the Giants system, where Keven Gausman revived his career into an $18.9mil QO. Why can't he?
Fact Check:
The Dodgers have, for the longest time, been the Giants' archrival. The Giants and Dodgers were born in New York – Manhattan, and Brooklyn, respectively. Both teams moved to California the same year (1957).
A helicopter belonging to the California Highway Patrol was commissioned to move the team's home base plate from its previous stadium, the Candlestick Park, to AT&T Park. For many San Francisco Giants fans, the base plate's relocation after the final game played at Candlestick Park was a fitting send-off to a renowned stadium and a glorious start of a new one.
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