SF Giants: Three players they should have signed this offseason

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The SF Giants made a number of additions this offseason, in what turned out to be a fairly typical Farhan Zaidi offseason for the Giants. This article will examine three moves the Giants should have made to bolster the roster.

SF Giants: Three players they should have signed this offseason

This was supposed to be a big offseason for the SF Giants. Many fans hoped that they would land a big fish in the form of Aaron Judge. We know that did not happen. And then we know what happened with the whole Carlos Correa saga. Ignoring those two infamous episodes, what are the other moves the Giants realistically could have made this offseason?

They addressed a number of important areas like their starting and relief pitching, as well as their outfield depth. But there are still some holes when it comes to catching, the infield, and top of the line ace starters. Here are some moves the Giants could have made to fill those holes.

Colorado Rockies v San Francisco Giants / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

1. Carlos Rodon

Carlos Rodon was the second ace the SF Giants lost in consecutive off-seasons. They lost Kevin Gausman in free agency last year, and in a very similar scenario, it seems the Giants did not make a very dedicated effort to bring back Rodon.

From early in the offseason it seemed like the team was more than willing to let Rodon walk and not get into a bidding war for their ace from last season. Perhaps they felt that Rodon would be worth the hefty price he was sure to command, especially with his injury history and the fact that he wanted a deal that would take him into his mid-30s.

They probably felt comfortable taking the approach they took, adding fairly reliable starters like Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea, opting for quantity over quality.

But after what Rodon did last year, they Giants should have made an effort to bring Rodon back. The one-two punch of Rodon and Logan Webb at the top of the rotation would have been formidable for years to come.

And it would have provided stability to a rotation that may see a lot of turnover these next few years as a lot of their starters are signed to short-term contracts.

Ultimately, they opted for a different strategy but imagine if the Giants went all in on starting pitching these last two off-seasons and had a rotation with Webb, Rodon, and Gausman at the top. That would have been arguably the most formidable rotation in the entire league.

We will see if the Giants more frugal strategy pans out. Let's turn our attention to another troubling part of the roster: catching.

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs / Jamie Sabau/GettyImages

2. Willson Contreras

The SF Giants saw a lot from Joey Bart last season. They saw some good, and some bad, and everything in between. By the end of the year, you could not confidently say that Bart was either a bust or the catcher of the future.

It seems the Giants are willing to give Bart the role of starting catcher again in 2023 to see if he can take the mantle left by Buster Posey, but what if they decided to go out and get one of the premier catchers on the market in the form of Willson Contreras?

There was talk last trade deadline that the Giants may trade for the catcher, but a deal was not made.

Contreras has been a solid hitting catcher since he came into the league. Last season he hit .243/.349/.466 with 22 homers and 55 RBI in 113 games.

Compare that with Bart's numbers: .215/.296/.364 with 11 homers and 25 RBI in 97 games. Is it conceivable that Bart can eventually get to the production level that Contreras is currently at? Yes. We have seen flashes of Bart's power at the plate.

However, we also have seen his inconsistencies. Signing Contreras would have turned the catching position into a strength from a question mark.

As it stands, we will have to see whether Bart can take a step forward next season and look more consistently like the catcher many believe he can be.

2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard / Jason Miller/GettyImages

3. Josh Bell

With the SF Giants letting Brandon Belt go in free agency, they leave a hole at first base. They will likely fill that hole with a combination of LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, and Wilmer Flores. But they could have signed a solid everyday first baseman in the form of Josh Bell.

Bell has been a solid player for the Pirates and the Nationals, and was traded to the Padres last year. He struggled mightily as a member of the Padres, but that may be an outlier on an otherwise solid career.

Bell is a switch-hitter who can hit well from both sides of the plate. He would have provided stability at first base which, as Mike Krukow recently noted, is not something that should be underappreciated, especially after the at-times shaky infield defense last year.

Instead, the Giants will rely on something of a hodgepodge at both corner infield positions next season. Let's hope it works, but it may have been worth investing in a longer-term option at at least one corner spot going forward.

Those are three players the Giants should have gone after in freeagency to bolster the roster. Overall, despite all the drama, confusion, and heartbreak, they still had a pretty productive offseason. We shall see if it results in the team getting back to the postseason in 2023.

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SF Giants: Three players they should have signed this offseason

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