(08-21-2022, 06:20 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: My vantage point suggests the Giants have 5 potentially ready for MLB in 2023 prospects:
- SP Kyle Harrison (21) AA
- 3B Casey Schmitt (23) AA
- SS Marco Luciano (20) A+ (would have been promoted to AA already if not for back strain)
- OF Vaun Brown (24) A+ (dominating with 5 tools, and has earned promotion to AA)
- OF Heliot Ramos (22) AAA (yes, he has struggled this year, but is still pretty young)
I watched some YouTube video of every Luciano AB in Giants Spring Training games this past February. He looked largely overmatched against fringe MLB pitching talent. Lots of swings and misses and not much hard contact. Clearly was not ready this year.
Much depends on the direction they go off season. Strip it down for total rebuild. Or try to go big in FA market.
Look at the regulars that are currently on 26:
Most likely back:
Craw (year left)
Slater
Bart
La Stella (contract) - I’d take the sunk cost. But doubt they will.
Estrada
Yaz. (He’s under team control and they won’t have to pay him much). But we see what he is. A 4th or 5th OF. Whose Giants only regular OF. Unfortunately.
Wade
Davis
Not a whole lot there.
Gone
Pederson
Flores - wish they’d resign him but I suspect he goes FA
Longo
Wynns
Big Question:
Belt. Id shut him down for the season. Put him on the 60. He’s obviously hurting. Reminds me of when Posey had no lower body. Posey could at least hit for a decent average cause he had such great hands as a hitter. And he had value as a catcher. But he couldn’t turn and couldn’t drive the ball. It took a year off for his body to heal. Belt doesn’t have that luxury. And he seems to have no lower body in his swing. So, shut him down. If there is a surgery that can help, do it now. And maybe he can be a viable option for one more year. Otherwise, time to cut ties. Or maybe he retires. If brought back, it will be under a very team friendly contract. He made 18 million this year. Hard to see him getting more than a one year deal at about 6-8 million. There will not be a much of a market for him.
I’d bring back Gonzalez and Villar right now. Play them everyday. See if either is a viable possibility for ‘23.
On the pitching side they have a nice starting core in Webb, Cobb, Wood. Maybe Junis is for real. Maybe not. DeSclafani was a bad signing. But maybe he will rebound some. Question is, if they go full rebuild do they look to deal Cobb and/or Wood.
Bullpen - Doval. Brebbia. The rest are fungible. Keep Rogers just because he’s durable. But I expect a lot of turnover in the pen. Littlle, Garcia, Leone, Young, all could be gone. Giants have several young arms in AA and AAA - Waites, Rodriguez, Dabovich that throw hard and rack up K’s. They also rack up walks. I suspect some if not all to be up next year. I liked Llovera. Nice arm. But don’t know how long he’s out.
Time to pivot. Should have done so prior to the deadline. But that’s bridgewater. I’m thinking it’s time to go full rebuild. That means looking to trade some assets for prospects. Cobb and Wood both possibilities. You should be able to get a major league ready prospect for each of them. Starting pitchers are a premium. Brebbia has some worth. Maybe Davis. Maybe Slater. Not much else to deal. Zaidi screwed the pooch with Rodon.
If they do strip down, we will see the youngsters earlier. Including, Harrison. Heck it they are in full fledged rebuild no reason he can’t break North come April.
There will be pain if they strip it down. But at least hope going forward. It will also involve selling this to the fan base. Which won’t be easy.
In the long run, ‘21 was bad for the organization. Fun as hell. But hubris set in…..
Going to be an interesting winter.