After a continuous downward spiral over the last several seasons, the San Francisco Giants look to get back into contention in 2024. A team that was once a perennial contender has gone from 107 wins in 2021 to 79 in 2023. To make things worse, the NL West may very well be the best division in baseball: You have the Dodgers who spent $100M this offseason, the Padres who still have several big-name stars, the Diamondbacks who are coming off of a World Series appearance and the Rockies. That’s a lot to compete against.
Where were they in 2023?
The Giants were disappointing to say the least. As the season began, optimism was dawned on the franchise. Only for that to consistently decline throughout the season. As with every team, there were some highs and lows. Most of the Giants’ highs came early on or midseason. They faltered when it mattered most.
The even-year magic under Bruce Bochy is long gone. They had one season of brilliance under Gabe Kapler in 2021, but then he came back down to earth. Now the San Francisco Giants enter the 2024 season with Bob Melvin at the helm.
Key Additions:
Robbie Ray – Out until at least the middle of the season, but Ray is a leader who helped the Mariners get to the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years. You can never go wrong with adding a former All-Star and Cy Young award winner. Especially to the back end of your rotation.
Blake Snell – In a late offseason move, the biggest free agent pitcher signed a two-year deal with the Giants. For the longest time it seemed that he was destined to be heading to New York but at the end of the day that’s not the case. Snell is coming off of his second Cy Young award in six years and arguably his best overall season.
Jorge Soler – The Giants needed to beef up their offense after finishing 24th in MLB in runs scored and 26th in OPS. Bringing in the best DH on the market can help with that.
Jung Hoo Lee – The Giants are hoping for the biggest foreign position player on the market this last offseason to bring a high OBP and contact at the top of the lineup.
Depth Chart:
Rotation: Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Keaton Winn, Snell
Bullpen: CL Camilo Doval, SU Tyler Rogers, SU Taylor Rogers, Luke Jackson, Ryan Walker, Nick Avila, Landon Roupp, Daulton Jeffries
Lineup: CF Lee, DH Soler, 1B Lamonte Wade Jr., 3B Matt Chapman, LF Michael Conforto, 2B Thairo Estrada, RF Mike Yastrzemski, C Patrick Bailey, SS Nick Ahmed
Bench: C Tom Murphy, INF Wilmer Flores, INF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald, OF Austin Slater
What Are They Hoping To Do?
If I’m being quite honest, the Giants are just looking to get back into contention under Melvin. They have the talent to compete in the NL West if it all comes together. There’s almost no chance that they’ll win the NL West with both the Dodgers and Padres projected ahead of them but they could sneak into the playoffs with a wild card spot.
Win Projection: 81-84 Wins
World Series Odds: +6000 (Via FanDuel)
You may consider taking other bets on FanDuel: Logan Webb (+1500) and Snell (+1800) for Cy Young and Camilo Doval for National League Reliever of the Year.
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