5 Realistic free agents the SF Giants should target this winter

As the SF Giants embark upon another offseason in which expectations are sky high to make a big splash in free agency, we would do well as fans to temper expectations. If history is any indicator, the Giants will not land a massive superstar like Shohei Ohtani. Instead, they are likely to miss out on all of the premier free agents and will instead be forced to pick from lower tiers.

5 Realistic free agents the SF Giants should target this winter

This is what the Giants were forced to do last year. After missing out on Aaron Judge and after the Carlos Correa deal fell through, they were forced to piece together a lineup with free agents like Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto.

Fans should already be preparing themselves to settle for free agents closer to the middle of the market, especially given the fact that there is a pretty steep drop-off in talent available in free agency after Ohtani. 

This article is going to examine what a realistic Giants free agency will look like. Many of the players on this list are solid ball players, but just like last year will not solve the lack of star talent on the roster. 

Realistic target #1: Matt Chapman

Of all the free agents available, Matt Chapman makes a lot of sense for the San Francisco Giants. He played for new manager Bob Melvin in Oakland and has had a very solid career. 

He is known for being one of the premier defenders in baseball, and he has had some solid seasons with the bat as well.

Last year with the Blue Jays, Chapman hit .240/.330/.424 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. Plus, he took home his fourth Gold Glove award at third base.

If you look at some of his numbers, Chapman may not seem like much of an upgrade over JD Davis. But if you look at his WAR he is a clear upgrade. Davis sported a WAR of 0.8 last season while Chapman's was 4.4.

If you believe in that stat, that is nearly three extra wins in a season which could be the difference between making the postseason or not.

Plus, if the Giants were to sign Chapman, that could allow Wilmer Flores to really only play first base or serve as a DH which is probably best for him so he can focus on continuing to rake at the plate. 

Chapman will not thrill Giants fans, but he is a solid ball player that will make the team better and has a history with the new manager. 

5 Realistic free agents the SF Giants should target this winter

Realistic target #2: Harrison Bader 

Many Giants fans may recognize Harrison Bader from his days with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2023 he struggled as a member of the Yankees and the Reds at the plate.

But Bader still brings a gold glove-caliber defense with him which is something sorely needed in the Giants outfield. If the Giants were to add Bader and Chapman they would be instantly upgrading a defense that definitely had some soft spots.

Bader does not bring a ton with the bat, but he is an energetic player who once penned a handwritten letter to Hunter Pence while he played against him in the big leagues. He would be a solid and realistic addition to the team. 

Realistic Free agent #3: Sonny Gray

Yet another player who has ties to new SF Giants manager Bob Melvin, Sonny Gray makes a lot of sense as a target for the SF Giants. 

Starting his career with the Oakland A’s in 2013, gray has had a solid career as a starting pitcher. Last year with the Minnesota twins he has an 8-8 record with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts. 

Of course, it should be noted that Gray could accept a qualifying offer from the Twins. But given he had such a solid season it is definitely possible that he could test free agency and see if he could get a big multi-year deal.

With the recent injury news about Alex Cobb and the fact that Sean Manaea has opted out of his deal, Gray would be a very important stabilizing force in a rotation that for much of last year was just Logan Webb and Cobb followed by a hodgepodge of openers and bulk relief appearances. 

The Melvin connection likely helps as he was Gray's big-league manager for his entire tenure in Oakland. So, if Gray rejects the qualifying offer then there is a good chance we could see him in orange and black next season.