2 SF Giants roster battles to monitor in spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants / Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/GettyImages
2 of 2
Next

Interestingly, the SF Giants roster is mostly settled. There are not many open roster battles going on in camp, but there are still two to monitor this spring - utility glove and left-handed reliever.

2 SF Giants roster battles to monitor in spring training

There could be a battle for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Keaton Winn was shut down after experiencing some elbow discomfort earlier this week, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that he is cleared to begin throwing again. Presumably, he is still in line to make the Opening Day rotation.

Outside of Winn, the Giants have Logan Webb, Jordan Hicks, Kyle Harrison, and Tristan Beck penciled in to the rotation to start the year. If any of them are not ready, it could create an opportunity for someone like Sean Hjelle, who is on the 40-man roster. Or, it could be an opportunity for one of their younger pitchers who are in camp as non-roster invitees.

Perhaps, there is an opening for more than one reliever to make the team. Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Taylor Rogers, Ryan Walker, and Luke Jackson will consist of the core bullpen arms. If the Giants carry eight relievers, they have room for three more and not too many experienced options outside of the five mentioned above.

1. Utility infielder

The infield alignment is settled with one exception. Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy will serve as the primary catchers. LaMonte Wade Jr., Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Marco Luciano, and J.D. Davis will round out the rest of the group.

The Giants have a lot of right-handed-hitting infielders and not too many options in camp who hit from the left side. Importantly, they need someone who can play a competent shortstop.

The Giants are committed to Luciano being the everyday shortstop, but they need another capable shortstop in case of injuries or underperformance. And, it feels like they are making the same mistake they made last offseason with a lack of shortstop depth.

In camp, the Giants have Otto López, Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt, and Brett Wisely competing for that utility glove role. Wisely is better suited for the right side of the infielder. Though, he does have experience in center field as well.

On the other hand, Schmitt's best position is third base. He saw time up the middle last year, but it really feels like he needs more seasoning in Triple-A.

That leaves López and Fitzgerald. Both have multi-positional experience and speed, which are two things that could help the Giants. There is a good chance that the utility bat sees time not only in the infield, but as a fifth outfielder as well.

The Giants' outfield leans in favor of lefty bats with Michael Conforto, Jung Hoo Lee, and Mike Yastrzemski. Manager Bob Melvin will likely not rely on platoons as much as the Giants have in recent years, but it is good to have more balance. Both Fitzgerald and López check that box as they each one hits from the right side.

That said, they have different offensive profiles. Fitzgerald hits with much more power and strikes out at a much higher rate. That is often the tradeoff with power. In each of the past two seasons, he has reached the 20-homer mark. His value with the bat will be determined by how many home runs he can hit.

However, López grinds out at-bats, takes a healthy number of walks, and puts the ball in play at a high rate. He offers no power as he has never hit more than five home runs in any season. His value will be influenced by how many holes in the defense he can find.

Both are good baserunners, but Fitzgerald is arguably the better base stealer. Each player is going to get plenty of playing time this spring, but López is more competent on the left side of the infield. That could be the fact that gives him the edge.

Update: The Giants have added to the competition by signing veteran infielder Nick Ahmed to a minor league deal, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

2024 San Francisco Giants Spring Training
2024 San Francisco Giants Spring Training / Zac BonDurant/San Francisco Giants/GettyImages

2 SF Giants roster battles to monitor in spring training

2. Left-handed reliever

This might not be the most exciting battle to watch. However, they will want to carry more than one left-handed reliever. Taylor Rogers will be tabbed as the high-leverage option from the left side, but there is not an obvious alternative beyond that.

The Giants have Erik Miller and Ethan Small on the 40-man roster. And, they recently addeed seven-year veteran Amir Garrett on a minor league deal. Given that Miller and Small are already on the 40-man roster, they could conceivably have the inside track. However, Garrett has more experience among the group.

Miller is coming off of a really nice season last year. The 26-year-old pitcher tallied a 2.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 12.7 K/9, and a 1.96 SO/W ratio in 62.1 frames, most of which took place in Triple-A. He allowed just two home runs. He has a starter's repertoire with a mid-90's sinker along with a changeup and a slider. However, he is limited by below-average command but he has enough strike-throwing ability to serve a functional role in the bullpen.

On the other hand, Small was a first-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019. He was acquired by the Giants in a trade with the Brewers earlier in the month. He has tallied a 3.14 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, and a 2.37 SO/W ratio in four minor league seasons. Small flashes a low-90's fastball with a changeup and an occasional slider. The changeup is his best pitch, but the lefty prospect hides the ball well with a three-quarters arm slot, so the perceived velocity of his velocity plays up.

Lastly, Amir Garrett has the edge in terms of experience. He has posted a 4.95 ERA across seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals. Garrett does have a 44.8 percent ground ball rate in his career, so he gets a healthy number of ground balls.

His 2023 campaign was a mixed bag. He tallied a 3.33 ERA, but it came with a less-promising 5.56 FIP in 24.1 frames. He was released by the Royals in July and did not resurface in the majors.

He has experience but has rarely been consistent in the majors. On the mound, Garrett has a mid-90's sinker with a slider. The slider is his best pitch as opposing hitters registered just a .218 batting average against it last season. His best chance for success might just be an increase in his slider usage.

Similar to Miller and Small, Garrett has below-average control. No one will necessarily differentiate themselves in terms of strike rate, but each one offers a different look. Miller is coming off of a solid season in Triple-A, but the Giants might want to keep Garrett in the organization. It feels like Miller has an edge, but Garrett could break camp with the club if he performs.

Next