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The San Francisco Giants have been busy this offseason, as they recently fortified their starting rotation by signing free-agent pitchers Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to lucrative contracts. Here’s what San Francisco’s rotation should look like in 2016 after the moves.
Timothy Downs is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him Twitter @Tidow1212
1. Madison Bumgarner
Credit: Getty Images1. Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner is clearly the ace of San Francisco's staff, and the Giants' season undoubtedly relies on his left-arm. If the Giants make the playoffs, it might behoove the club to pitch Bumgarner in Game 2 of a long series in order to split up the righties a bit, but the odds of it actually happening are slim-to-none.
2. Johnny Cueto
Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports2. Johnny Cueto
After the Arizona Diamondbacks made a shocking splash by acquiring Zack Greinke, San Francisco answered with one of its own by signing Johnny Cueto to a six-year, $130 million deal. Cueto's inconsistent second-half with the Kansas City Royals can be thrown out the window now that he's back in the National League. As long as that right-arm stays healthy, the Giants have one of the most deadly one-two punches in MLB.
3. Jeff Samardzija
Credit: Twitter3. Jeff Samardzija
Jeff Samardzija is coming off the worst statistical campaign of his career (11-13, 4.96 ERA), but there's reason to believe he'll be fine in 2016 as he returns to the National League where he's had the most success. Samardzija's thrived off striking batters out in his career, and chances are he'll be able to get back to a rate closer to his career average (8.2 K/9) than what he tallied in 2015 (6.9 K/9). The Giants are in great shape at No. 3 for the next five seasons.
4. Jake Peavy
Credit: Getty Images4. Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy has 14 MLB seasons under his belt, but he's still just 34 years old and has plenty left in the tank. Peavy made 19 starts in 2015, and went 8-6 with a solid 3.58 ERA and excellent 1.12 WHIP. He will inevitably miss some time to injury in 2016 as he does almost every year, but if the Giants get 25 solid starts out of the veteran, they will be in superb shape in the No. 4 spot.
5. Matt Cain
Credit: Getty Images5. Matt Cain
Matt Cain will likely start the 2016 campaign as San Francisco's fifth starter, but the Giants have an adequate replacement in Chris Heston if Cain continues to be riddled with injury and ineffectiveness. All in all, the Giants will showcase one of the most intimidating rotations in MLB and should have plenty to say about how the National League's playoff picture develops next fall.
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