[Mick]

Preseason projections: Jim Bowden of the Athletic pegs the Giants as the 19th best out of the 30 MLB teams, says there's an average MLB player at every position except shortstop. 

The latest PECOTA analysis projects the Giants to win 85 games, only behind the Dodgers and Braves in the NL.

FanGraphs pegs the Giants at 83 wins, tied with the D'Backs and Cardinals and just behind the Phillies at 85. FanGraphs had the Giants at 80.7 prior to the Chapman signing which upgraded the Giants to 81.5 and adding Snell pushed their projection to 83.4. FanGraphs has nine teams projected to win between 80 and 85 games. One will win the NL Central, the others will fight for the three wild cards.

Giants spent almost $200 million on free agents last year and more than $320 million this off-season. 79 wins last season, removal of many deadwood players, addition of Soler, Ray, Hicks, Chapman, Snell, Lee, Murphy, Ahmed and continued maturation of Bailey, Winn, Harrison, Beck and other youngsters and (hopefully) physical improvement of Conforto, Yaz, Hjelle, etc.  

All that for an additional 4 to 6 projected wins.

[Mick]

Preseason projections: Jim Bowden of the Athletic pegs the Giants as the 19th best out of the 30 MLB teams, says there's an average MLB player at every position except shortstop. 

The latest PECOTA analysis projects the Giants to win 85 games, only behind the Dodgers and Braves in the NL.

FanGraphs pegs the Giants at 83 wins, tied with the D'Backs and Cardinals and just behind the Phillies at 85. FanGraphs had the Giants at 80.7 prior to the Chapman signing which upgraded the Giants to 81.5 and adding Snell pushed their projection to 83.4. FanGraphs has nine teams projected to win between 80 and 85 games. One will win the NL Central, the others will fight for the three wild cards.

Giants spent almost $200 million on free agents last year and more than $320 million this off-season. 79 wins last season, removal of many deadwood players, addition of Soler, Ray, Hicks, Chapman, Snell, Lee, Murphy, Ahmed and continued maturation of Bailey, Winn, Harrison, Beck and other youngsters and (hopefully) physical improvement of Conforto, Yaz, Hjelle, etc.  

All that for an additional 4 to 6 projected wins.