San Francisco Giants: Envisioning the 2018 Starting Rotation

RHP, Jeff Samardzija

I truly would hate for the Giants to trade away Samardzija. He was a really good starter, despite the abnormally high ERA. His K/BB ratio is through the roof, and his xFIP is one of the tops in baseball. His biggest issue was a few things. One was run support. The other was how terrible the Giants’ outfield defense was in 2017. They have a combined -46 DRS according to Fangraphs. The only players with a positive DRS in 2017, were Austin Slater and Jarrett Parker. That’s it.

Samardzija at the four spot in the rotation means there are three bonafide, better pitchers than he is ahead of him. That should be enough of a boost to the Giants rotation. If he’s operating anywhere higher than the third spot in the rotation, that’s not good for their depth. Sad, but true.

The only way that would be acceptable is if guys like Tyler Beede and Andrew Suarez are contributing members of the rotation, and are doing that at a relatively high level. Would would be in the fourth spot, if Samardzija is higher? None other than Ty Blach, who I think would be best as the fifth starter in all reality.

But the Giants should hope that Blach is their fifth starter. If he is, that’s a legitimate rotation to take to opening day. That is also provided that it doesn’t include Matt Moore.