San Francisco Giants: Who’s In and Who’s Out For 2018

As we wrap up the 2017 season, we’ll take a look at who could be in and who could be out as the San Francisco Giants look towards the 2018 season.

This should be a very busy offseason for the San Francisco Giants. A lot of players on the 40-man roster right now won’t be with the team next year.

So with that thought in mind, let’s look at who could be in or out of the San Francisco Giants’ roster next year.

IN

We’ll start with those who I think will be back on the team next year. Obvious choices are Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik. I don’t think those four guys go anywhere.

Here are players who I think will be back, but I’m not 100 percent positive they will be: Ty Blach, Kyle Crick, Johnny Cueto, Sam Dyson, Cory Gearrin, Derek Law, Mark Melancon, Matt Moore, Steven Okert, Josh Osich, Jeff Samardzija, Chris Stratton, Albert Suarez, Ryder Jones, Gorkys Hernandez, Jarrett Parker, Will Smith.

OUT

Again, we’ll start with the easy ones as we know Matt Cain won’t be back. Same can be said for Pablo Sandoval and Mike Morse. The only impending free agent I think the San Francisco Giants might try to bring back is Nick Hundley.

Now here are players I think the San Francisco Giants could either let go or trade this offseason: Hunter Strickland, Hundley, Kelby Tomlinson, Hunter Pence, Austin Slater, Denard Span, Mac Williamson, Brandon Belt and Christian Arroyo.

So let’s talk about a few of these as I’m sure some of you are scratching your heads.

As I said, I think the Giants try and bring Hundley back but our out-bid by another team.

The Giants should try desperately to get rid of Strickland. I think he would be a great addition in a big trade for an outfielder. With that, I think the Giants look to trade Pence to make room in the outfield. And I think they try to trade Span, or either part ways and eat a lot of money.

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Tomlinson, Slater and Arroyo are on here because I think if the Giants are going to make any big trades this offseason, Slater and Arroyo will have to be a part of that package. Tomlinson is a nice throw-in guy for any deal, just like Strickland.

Time has run out on Williamson — to no real fault of his own. He hasn’t been given a fair shot in San Francisco for whatever reason, so let him have that chance elsewhere.

And finally, I think the Giants look to move Brandon Belt. I know there is a division among Giants fans about how good, or bad, Belt is, but the fact is we need home runs from the first base position.

Home runs are at an all-time high in baseball, and the Giants are behind the curve. They can’t have a first baseman that can’t consistently put up over 20 home runs. I love his on-base-percentage, but leave that up to your middle infielders.

Next: San Francisco Giants Should Go All Out and Reload the Outfield

Some of these moves may seem dramatic, but I think the San Francisco Giants need a dramatic offseason. What I saw this year was embarrassing, so let’s clear the slate and try something different.