Dodgers drew short end of stick by signing these SF Giants free agents

The SF Giants did not bring back any of their free agents this offseason. The highest-profile departure was starting pitcher Blake Snell, but Michael Conforto left as well. So far, that looks like a very good thing for the Giants.

Both Snell and Conforto signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Snell signing was certainly a punch in the gut after he was so dominant in the second half of last season with the Giants. It seems San Francisco did not have a ton of interest in bringing him back which, for right now, looks like a wise move.

SF Giants were wise to let these free agents go to the Dodgers

Snell went on the IL earlier this season with left shoulder inflammation after making just two starts. The hope was that he would not miss too much time, but he does not appear set to return any time soon for Los Angeles and was briefly shut down from throwing.

Giants fans know that Snell is more than capable of having a rough, injury-riddled first half of a season before coming back and looking like a completely different pitcher in the second half. However, there are certainly some Dodgers fans who are not in love with the fact that the Dodgers gave him a five-year, $182 million contract. They are learning the hard way that Snell is a slow starter.

The Dodgers also signed Michael Conforto, and while he has remained healthy he has been very bad at the plate thus far. In 29 games and 92 at-bats he is slashing .152/.304/.261 with two home runs and five runs batted in.

The left fielder put up respectable numbers in San Francisco during his two seasons with the team. Last season he slashed .237/.309/.450 with 20 home runs and 66 runs batted in.

Yet, the Giants are certainly glad they passed on him considering the Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $17 million contract. Compare that to the fact that the Giants gave Mike Yastrzemski a $9.25 million contract and he has been immeasurably better than Conforto, providing more value offensively, defensively, and on the bases. Add in the fact that the Giants have gotten a ton of production from Wilmer Flores as their DH who is playing on a $3.5 million contract and letting Conforto leave in free agency looks like a masterstroke.

The fact that both players are now problems for the Dodgers to deal with only makes things even better. Who knows, maybe Snell and Conforto will make the Giants pay at some point this year. Yet, early on it looks like the Dodgers drew the short end of the stick by poaching both players from the Giants.