Ranking the 4 frontline starters the SF Giants should target in free agency

As the MLB offseason officially gets underway the SF Giants' path toward a pennant feels as daunting as ever. The NL West is always a gauntlet. However, next season, the Giants must contend with the NL Champion Diamondbacks, the ever-looming, powerhouse Dodgers, and a retooling Padres club still flushed with premiere talent. The way they can do that is buy adding a frontline starter.

Ranking the 4 frontline starters the SF Giants should target in free agency

San Fransisco has several notable needs to address before Opening Day 2024. Near the very top of this list is a need for a top-tier starting pitcher. While the club was able to piece together a respectable starting rotation, the unit was noticeably void of star talent outside of ace Logan Webb.

While veteran Alex Cobb performed well in limited action, starters Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea (who has opted out), and Anthony DeSclafani all struggled to find their footing. The team was able to mask some of these issues. However, a front-line starter to pair with Webb would give the franchise a major boost.

Unfortunately, superstar target Shohei Ohtani's recent elbow surgery is expected to keep him from pitching in 2024. While he should 100% remain the top priority for the Giants this offseason, both as a hitter in 2024 and as a two-way phenom in 2025, we will not include him on this list.

Thankfully there are a number of other superstar arms on the free-agent market this offseason. Which make the most sense for the SF Giants? Let's discuss!

Ranking the 4 frontline starters the SF Giants should target in free agency

4) Sonny Gray

Gray is a different caliber ace than the others on this list. He was superb in 2023, establishing himself as an AL Cy Young finalist, pitching to the tune of a 2.79 ERA, and earning his third career All-Star honors.

Gray's 11-year MLB career has been something of a roller coaster. At times, he has been one of the best pitchers on planet Earth. At others, he has failed to separate himself from the blob of average starting pitchers.

The Twins' star would certainly slot into the #2 spot (behind incumbent star Logan Webb), in the Giants' rotation. While this would be a dangerous duo, Gray does fall closer to the line of bonafide ace than one would prefer.

He should not be the Giants' best offseason target. However, landing him in addition to another All-Star would be a major boost to the club as they seek to compete for the NL West crown. At a projected annual market value of just over $20 million per season, he is a sensible target for the SF Giants.

Ranking the 4 frontline starters the SF Giants should target in free agency

3) Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Don't let the low ranking on this list fool you! Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the upside to be an immediate MLB ace, especially for a franchise like the SF Giants, ranking as high as #2 based on a recent free-agent board (behind only Ohtani), Yamamoto could be the steal of this free agency class.

During his seven-year international career, the star has a pristine 1.72 ERA. Since transitioning to the highly competitive NPL league in Japan, he has maintained a 1.82 ERA. For context, Mets All-Star pitcher Kodai Senga posted a 2.35 ERA in the NPL before immediately dominating in his inaugural MLB season.

He reportedly features a great four-seam fastball (in the range of 97 mph), and a plus cutter, curveball, and splitter. By all accounts, he is primed to be the next big international star to enter MLB.

As his legend grows, so too does his price tag. In fact, it is being reported that the club that wins the Yamamoto sweepstakes should expect to hand him a $200+ million contract. While his upside is sky-high, the Japanese star's lack of a proven MLB track record places him just below these next two veterans.

Ranking the 4 frontline starters the SF Giants should target in free agency

1) Blake Snell

Speaking of hot and cold, we bring you, Blake Snell! On one hand, Snell is a former Cy Young winner (2018) who is the odds-on favorite to claim the prestigious award again in 2023. At his best, he is a top-tier pitcher with the ability to dominate games.

The former Rays and Padres ace enters free agency on the heels of a stellar 2023 campaign. In a world full of home runs and inflated offense, Snell led the majors with a dazzling 2.25 ERA, while striking out 234 batters, and winning 14 games.

This type of dominance is nothing new for the veteran pitcher, who holds a career ERA of 3.20. It's not hyperbole to suggest that, if signed, Snell could potentially enter the hallowed grounds occupied by former franchise icons like Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, and Tim Lincecum.

Incumbent ace Logan Webb, a Cy Young finalist in his own right, has been amazing at the top of the rotation. The notion of him and Snell together should give fans flashbacks of the Lincecum/Cain one-two punch.

However, there are concerns in Snell's game that must be considered. First amongst these is his control issues.

In the midst of his standout season, the San Diego star also led all of baseball with 99 walked batters. For context, Braves veteran Charlie Morton held the second-highest mark in MLB... With just 76 walks.

If indeed Snell does capture his second Cy Young honors, he would be the first player since Early Winn in 1959 to capture the award while pacing the league in walks. While this did not stop him from dominating his competition, it is something that Giants President Farhan Zaidi and his front office must consider.

Additionally, Snell carries a small level of season-to-season consistency concern. For instance, since 2018, Snell has had two seasons with a 2.25 ERA or lower. During that same span, he has two seasons with an ERA over 4.20. While the veteran's ceiling is high enough too high to pass up, the Giants should be prepared for an occasional low floor.

Snell's $23.4 million per season projected market value is a huge commitment. However, San Fransisco has been in the market to spend big money on a superstar for several off-seasons. adding the ace would provide the Giants with a to-of-the-rotation starter while also stealing him for an NL West rival.