Click here if you are having trouble viewing the photos or video on your mobile device.
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona–Throughout one of the worst seasons in franchise history, injury issues and poor production prevented the Giants from fielding a competitive club.
This spring, San Francisco is attempting to bounce back from a 64-98 campaign that featured the team’s first last-place finish in a decade and to do so, the Giants must first decide on which 25 players will travel to Dodger Stadium on Opening Day.
Over the next six weeks, general manager Bobby Evans, manager Bruce Bochy and their respective staffs will evaluate the 50-plus players the Giants have invited to Major League camp in Scottsdale, Arizona to determine which assets give the club the best chance of rebounding from its recent failures.
Along the way, I’ll release multiple iterations of what the Giants’ 25-man roster will look like on March 29 when San Francisco opens the season down south. This version, the Giants’ 25-man roster 1.0, is not a list featuring the 25 most talented players in the organization but instead a predictive look at who is most likely to begin the year with the Major League club.
The list will update throughout the spring based on injuries, player performances and other factors, with the final prediction released during the last week of Spring Training.
Starting pitchers (5)
Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Chris Stratton, Ty Blach
The verdict: Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija are expected to provide the foundation for the Giants’ rotation this season, while Stratton and Blach enter Spring Training with an edge over two young challengers for the final starting jobs. Right-handed prospect Tyler Beede and left-handed prospect Andrew Suarez are expected to contribute at the Major League level at some point this season, and if Blach stumbles this spring, perhaps one of the two could open the year at the back end of the rotation. However, the Giants value Blach’s experience and understand the importance of starting the season on a high note. With a four-game set in Los Angeles at the beginning of the year, the Giants may break up the streak of right-handers in their rotation and have Blach pitch in the No. 4 spot and move Stratton back to No. 5 so that Blach can face a Dodgers team he’s performed well against in the past.
Relief pitchers (7)
Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson, Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin, Derek Law, Josh Osich, Steven Okert
The verdict: The Giants are counting on left-hander Will Smith to be a late-innings fixture this season, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery last spring, Smith said in September his goal was to return by May 1. Melancon, Dyson, Strickland and Gearrin will form the core four until Smith returns, but the Giants are hoping either Osich or Okert proves capable of handling lefties late in games during the early portion of the year. Evans said Law will begin the spring with a strong chance of earning a roster spot, but rookie Reyes Moronta or Rule 5 draft choice Julian Fernandez could challenge for one of the final bullpen jobs. If Fernandez doesn’t spend the entirety of the 2018 season on the 25-man roster, San Francisco will have to offer him back to the Colorado Rockies, so he’ll receive serious opportunities in Scottsdale. If Beede or Suarez earns a starting spot in the rotation, expect Blach to begin the season in the bullpen which could put the crunch on Osich or Okert. Prospect D.J. Snelten, another southpaw, is a wildcard who could shake up the competition.
Catchers (2)
Buster Posey, Nick Hundley
The verdict: The Giants signed Hector Sanchez this offseason, but they inked him on a Minor League deal so he couldn’t do damage against their Major League pitching staff this year. After Sanchez launched four home runs and hit .300 against San Francisco last season, Evans was wise to bring back Posey’s former backup to the organization. However, barring an injury, Sanchez won’t challenge for a Major League job, so Sacramento River Cats fans could be in for a treat this year.
Infielders (6)
Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Kelby Tomlinson, Pablo Sandoval
The verdict: With Longoria’s durability and Posey’s ability to back up Belt at first base, the Giants aren’t in a position where they’ll be forced to keep six infielders. Instead, San Francisco could have Tomlinson back up starters at every position except first base and save an extra roster spot for another bullpen arm. While Bochy will likely go with 13 pitchers and 12 position players at some point during the season, the Giants’ Opening Day roster shouldn’t feature that many pitchers. Ryder Jones and non-roster invitees Andres Blanco, Alen Hanson, Josh Rutledge could make a play for a roster spot, but Sandoval should enter the spring as the leader to hang onto the final infield reserve role. The Giants have given Sandoval the benefit of the doubt every step of the way, so why stop now?
Outfielders (5)
Andrew McCutchen, Hunter Pence, Austin Jackson, Gregor Blanco, Jarrett Parker
The verdict: The competition for the final two outfield spots figures to be the most intense battle in Giants camp this spring, as no fewer than six players will have an opportunity to join McCutchen, Pence and Jackson on the Opening Day roster. The Giants will likely give Blanco and highly touted prospect Steven Duggar a chance compete for a platoon role in center field with Jackson, with the expectation being that Duggar earns a greater share of the playing time as the season unfolds. However, Duggar’s progress was stunted last season by an injury, so Blanco, a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, is my pick to begin the year in the outfield. Even if Parker doesn’t outperform the likes of Gorkys Hernandez, Austin Slater, Mac Williamson and Chris Shaw in Arizona, his left-handed power and range as a corner outfielder is valuable to a team that features three right-handed locks to make the team. If both Blanco and Duggar flop this spring, it’s possible Hernandez –a Bochy favorite– earns a job based on his ability to patrol center field at AT&T Park. Because he still has Minor League options, Slater would probably need a red hot spring at the plate to merit consideration for an Opening Day roster spot.
