Ranking the SF Giants top 3 offseason needs

Ranking the SF Giants top 3 offseason needs

3. Rework the outfield

This might be the most interesting area of the roster to watch this offseason. The Giants have a handful of outfielders under team control for 2023 like Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Luis González.

They could go in a number of different directions with this group but I do not believe that bringing back all four should be a consideration. The Giants will also have a decision to make on Joc Pederson, but I think a position change is in order.

This group has to look different next season. The outfield defense has been horrendous as they have been worth -40 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and -23 Outs Above Average (OAA). Both marks rank last in baseball and by a pretty comfortable margin in terms of DRS.

The outfield offense has combined to post a 103 wRC+, which is slightly above average. Pederson is the most impactful bat by far among Giants outfielders and he is set to become a free agent this winter.

Yastrzemski has been solid with the glove in center field, but they do need another glove-first outfielder along with a couple of productive bats. In terms of finding a productive bat, adding Aaron Judge would check that box off in a hurry but that move feels unlikely.

Brandon Nimmo has quietly been one of the better outfielders over the past couple of years and he brings the type of at-bat quality that the front office targets. Andrew Benintendi will be in demand as he is coming off of an All-Star season.

Joey Gallo and Mitch Haniger have both struggled in 2022 as they have battled ineffectiveness in the case of Gallo and injury in the case of Haniger. That said, they each have a track record of success prior to this year.

Speaking of injury, Michael Conforto might be looking to re-establish value on a one-year deal after missing the entire 2022 season with a shoulder injury. The point is, the Giants will need to bring in a few new faces to an outfield group that has struggled badly in 2022.