SF Giants: Predicting the Opening Day roster in 2023

The SF Giants have come a long way over the past couple of seasons. Yet even as the franchise appears on the upswing, the big-league roster remains far removed from true championship contention. Many fans are as excited for the upcoming minor-league season as they are for Giants games.

Of course, prospects are only half of the equation. The Giants have significant payroll flexibility in the coming years and are expected to be major players in next year’s free-agent frenzy. It will be pivotal that San Francisco brings the right veterans into the fold to complement their prospect talent. What could that look like on Opening Day in 2023?

SF Giants Opening Day bench in 2023:

Catcher: Chadwick Tromp
4th outfielder: Mauricio Dubón
Utility Infielder: Tommy La Stella
Corner Bat: Jason Vosler

Mauricio Dubón may currently be the primary centerfielder against left-handed hitters, but with a trove of outfield prospects currently in the system, his future is on the bench. His ability to put the ball in play consistently while playing solid defense at shortstop and center field makes him a fantastic swiss-army knife to spell starters and deploy in late-game situations.

The only current infielder under contract beyond 2022, Tommy La Stella figures to play some role on the 2023 roster. However, set to be 35 and far from an elite player, he slots onto the bench nicely alongside Dubón. A solid defender across the infield with a penchant for working walks and putting the ball in play, La Stella could enable the Giants manager to rest their starters consistently without creating a hole in the lineup.

With contact-oriented backups in La Stella and Dubón, the Giants would likely prioritize adding a power-hitting bat to round out the bench. The Giants added corner infielder Jason Vosler this offseason on a major-league contract. Vosler has been quite successful at Triple-A and could hit for power with a decent batting average if it all comes together. Capable of handling the corners defensively, he could offer a little more punch off the bench than La Stella or Dubón. If Vosler fades, prospect Luis Toribio could fit into that role nicely as well.

Most fans envision first-round picks Patrick Bailey and Joey Bart splitting time behind the plate. While that could very well occur down the line, Bailey has yet to make a pro debut and will not be rushed with Bart already in the organization. He very well could be in the mix by the end of 2023, but probably not in time for Opening Day. Instead, Chadwick Tromp, who was solid defensively with decent power in his big-league debut last season, seems like the favorite to be the backup after Buster Posey and Curt Casali become free agents.

SF Giants Opening Day lineup in 2023:

1. Austin Slater, LF
2. Corey Seager, 3B
3. Jose Abreu, 1B
4. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
5. Heliot Ramos, CF
6. Joey Bart, C
7. Alex Dickerson, DH
8. Will Wilson, 2B
9. Marco Luciano, SS

Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater are under team control through arbitration for the foreseeable future and seem like long-term starters in the corner outfield. Of course, prospects like Heliot Ramos and Hunter Bishop could very quickly become a part of that mix as well. Ramos seems primed to debut at some point in 2021 and should quickly become an everyday contributor. Bishop could move quickly through the minor leagues, but given his previous struggles with strikeouts, I project him to make his big-league debut at some point in 2023 after Opening Day.

While most prognosticators project Ramos to move to a corner, the Giants remain confident in his ability to stick in center field. Slater has looked comfortable in his first taste of center this year, but they might be inclined to push him to a less strenuous spot given his injury history.

Alex Dickerson is a free agent at the end of 2022, but he seems like a long-term fit with the organization as a platoon bat capable of handling either corner outfield spot. With the universal DH likely coming to the National League soon, Dickerson’s left-handed pop is an even better fit as a primary DH against right-handed pitching.

The current infield could undergo a complete renovation by 2023. Bart still looks like the catcher of the future, even after his struggles last season. Outside of him, though, there are no high-end infield prospects with much upper-level experience. Will Wilson has never played full-season ball but improved mightily over the course of spring training and could reach the upper minors by the end of this season. He has the defensive versatility to end up starting at second or third base by the end of next season.

Of course, the stars of this lineup are Corey Seager and José Abreu. Seager highlights the upcoming free-agent class as a power-hitting shortstop still in his twenties. After signing Mookie Betts to a large contract last year, and with prospect Gavin Lux already on the big-league roster, the Dodgers might not be willing to make an intense pursuit of Seager. The Giants, on the other hand, have plenty of payroll available to make him one of the highest-paid players in baseball to replace Brandon Crawford. Defensively, he has faded in recent years and could project to move to third base. However, with shortstop prospect Marco Luciano moving through the system, that will not keep San Francisco from a bidding war.

Luciano would still be only 21 on Opening Day in 2023. He struggled mightily in spring training this year and might be further away than most realized, but his elite hitting ability remains far above his age. Assuming he stays on track, he has a decent shot at reaching High-A or Double-A by the end of 2021, with an outside chance of debuting in 2022. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before he’s playing every day.

Abreu is not a free agent until after the 2022 season. However, with Wilmer Flores under contract through next season, the Giants will not be forced to make a move at first base even if Brandon Belt departs in free agency. Abreu has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball since 2014. The White Sox have several corner bat prospects, leading them to move on from their fan-favorite. San Francisco could see him as a solid veteran bridge to a player like Toribio, Logan Wyatt, or Garrett Frechette.

SF Giants Opening Day bullpen in 2023:

LR: Sean Hjelle
MR: Kervin Castro
MR: Camilo Doval
MR: Caleb Baragar
MR: Tyler Rogers
SU: Gregory Santos
SU: Jake McGee
CL: Sam Long

The Giants handed out a three-year deal to Jake McGee this past offseason, but already in his mid-30s with a long injury history, they hope to have other options in the back-of-the-bullpen by 2023. With that said, Zaidi is unlikely to be interested in paying a premium for a closer through free agency. If the team is going to make significant upgrades to their bullpen, it’s probably going to come from the system.

Kervin Castro, Caleb Baragar, Gregory Santos, and Sam Long were all developed as starting pitchers. Baragar found a role in the Giants pen last season upon a move to the bullpen, and the organization has decided to do the same with Castro and Santos. While neither of them are currently on the roster, they are two of the best reliever prospects in the system.

Sam Long was a sensation at spring training and will get a chance to start, but it’s far more likely that he soon follows with a move to relief of his own. Of all the prospects, Long has shown the best combination of stuff and command. There’s a case for Santos, Castro, or prospect Camilo Doval to pitch their way into the closer role, but I lean towards Long for now.

Hjelle has looked like a future fourth starter since the Giants drafted him in 2018. At 7’0” tall, the righty has a unique profile that could give him an even higher ceiling than his average pitching arsenal suggests. However, Zaidi and his front office have prioritized starting pitchers that can dominate opponents in short bursts over starters that can work deeper into games by limiting contact. On the flip side, they’ve been far more open to unique soft-throwing relievers. Many would project Hjelle in the back of the rotation with Beede or Corry in the pen, but I believe the Giants could move in the opposite direction, deploying Hjelle as a long-reliever.

By 2023, SF Giants fans hope to see their favorite team back in championship contention. Prospects like Joey Bart and Marco Luciano will play a pivotal part in reaching that level of play, but the front office under Farhan Zaidi will have to acquire premium talent. Players like Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, and Jose Abreu could all play major roles in San Francisco’s next dynasty.