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After having a down season, at least by their standards, in 2015, there was some pressure on the San Francisco Giants heading into the offseason to make moves that would push them to the top of the NL West and back to the postseason. The Giants may not have made as many headlines as some other teams in baseball, including the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, who are now a threat to San Francisco in the division, but the Giants have several substantial additions this winter.
San Francisco has had past success behind a strong pitching staff, although there will be significant upheaval in their rotation in 2016. Tim Hudson is retiring after making 22 starts for the Giants in 2015, while Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum are both leaving San Francisco after combining for 37 starts last season. To help fill the void left by those players, the Giants have signed both Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto.
Obviously, the Giants were not in need of a true ace like David Price or Zack Greinke with Madison Bumgarner already filling that role for them, so they were wise to sign two pitchers far better suited to be a team’s No. 2 and 3 starters. The addition of Samardzija and Cueto behind Bumgarner ensures that the Giants have a strong and intimidating rotation. With the likes of Jake Peavy, Matt Cain and the young Chris Heston filling out the back of end, San Francisco may have a rotation as deep as any team in baseball this side of the NL champion New York Mets.
Offensively, the Giants were hurt last season by injuries to Hunter Pence and Joe Panik. While having those players healthy will give San Francisco a boost in 2016, the Giants also signed Denard Span to help supplement their outfield with Nori Aoki signing elsewhere. Span will step into left field for the Giants, but he’s also an option in center if Angel Pagan continues his downward spiral.
With Span also missing much of last season due to injury, there is some risk to signing him to a multi-year deal, but at age 31 there’s a good chance he has a bounce-back season in 2016. Considering the fact that Span may take over the leadoff spot in San Francisco’s order, his signing should have a positive impact on the Giants, despite the risk he carries.
Outside of signing Samardzija, Cueto and Span, the Giants haven’t made any significant moves this offseason, most notably choosing not to make any additions to their bullpen, despite non-tendering Yusmeiro Petit and losing Jeremy Affeldt to retirement. Whether the signing of Span will work out remains to be seen, but the boost that Samardzija and Cueto will provide to an already solid rotation is enough to make San Francisco’s offseason a success.
Grade: B+
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