MLB San Francisco Giants

Francisco Lirano Should Strongly Consider Signing With San Francisco Giants

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By @real_johnshea

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants have gone on record stating that their first priority in MLB free agency is to re-sign 2012 World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval, but the orange and black also need to prioritize adding another left-handed arm to their imbalanced rotation. The Giants flaunt just one southpaw in their starting five, albeit one of the best in baseball (Madison Bumgarner), but general manager Brian Sabean must make a concerted effort to add another dynamic pitcher to his roster this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Pirates could potentially bid to keep Liriano, who posted a mediocre 7-10 record with a respectable 3.38 ERA in 2014, but will likely direct limited monetary resources toward team leader Russell Martin, who has reportedly drawn significant interest in the early stages of free agency. Pittsburgh isn’t expected to endure a sizable increase in their approximate $72 million team payroll from 2014, meaning that Liriano is a probable offseason casualty, considering the amount of money he’s likely to earn in free agency and the relatively average production he mounted last season.

Liriano is a solid fit for the Giants, who could possibly retain both Jake Peavy and Ryan Vogelsong to round out their rotation, despite a seeming need for another left-hander. San Francisco would not have earned a Wild Card bid if it weren’t for solid down-the-stretch performances from Peavy and Vogelsong, but both veterans boast limited upside heading into 2015.

Rather than retaining a near-identical roster in 2015, Sabean would be wise to add a new arm to the rotation while inking Vogelsong to another one-year deal totaling no more than $3 million. Peavy’s successful stint with San Francisco could net him a deal ranging from two to three years, pricing him outside of the Giants’ ideal. But don’t be surprised if the Giants return both gritty veterans in 2015, even though they shouldn’t.

Liriano won’t exactly come cheap. He earned $6 million in 2014, and could seek as much as $8 million annually over the next few seasons. The Giants aren’t expected to dig deep into their pockets despite winning their third World Series title in five seasons, but should have the capacity to bring in a guy like Liriano even if Sandoval is re-signed.

The Giants have a lot to offer Liriano, who was infamously dealt from the Giants to the Minnesota Twins in 2003. San Francisco is one of the best baseball towns in the league. They’ve cemented themselves as MLB’s premier franchise, winning three championships so far this decade. They’ve sold out 324 consecutive regular season home games and call home to one of the nation’s most coveted destination cities.

There is no reason as to why Liriano wouldn’t want to sign with San Francisco, especially on a deal that could extend over three years for roughly $24 million. The question is whether the Giants are in the market for an outside arm. Sabean gave reprieve to a former farmhand in 2011 (Vogelsong), and now has a chance to repeat the feat with another former draft pick this offseason.

John Shea is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @real_johnshea. Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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