McCovey Chronicles - All PostsWe want to continue to create opportunities for payroll flexibility.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50879/mcc-fav.png2024-03-18T18:49:29-07:00http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T18:49:29-07:002024-03-18T18:49:29-07:00Giants reportedly sign Blake Snell
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<img alt="View from the front of Blake Snell throwing a pitch. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lCcJB7vCmYUF_SnNggQd4QQxFaU=/0x0:3492x2328/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73216793/1701490948.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Snell will receive a two-year deal with an opt-out. </p> <p id="ZL30sO">Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. With 10 days left until Opening Day, the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> put a bow on one of the best offseasons in franchise history — and the clear-cut second-best offseason in the Majors this year. According to a report from Jon Heyman, the Giants signed left-handed pitcher Blake Snell to a two-year, $62 million contract with an opt-out after the first year.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: Snell to the Giants. $62M, 2 years. Opt out.</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1769896956766388609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="3hyFij">Giants beat reporter Alex Pavlovic has confirmed the news.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Giants are in agreement on a two-year, $62 million deal with Blake Snell, per source. Deal is pending a physical. They were patient and ended up getting a two-time Cy Young winner for their rotation. <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonHeyman</a> was on it.</p>— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) <a href="https://twitter.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1769899345066000692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="mGgLsN">According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Snell’s salary for 2024 is just $15 million, with a $17 million signing bonus ... which is deferred until 2026.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’ve confirmed the Snell signing. It includes a $17 mill signing bonus payable in Jan. 2026. $15 mill salary in 2024.</p>— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1769901906053509238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="t8OQ5g">Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, was linked to the Giants all year, especially after they failed to sign their top pitching target, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. When the Giants <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/1/24088267/giants-matt-chapman-free-agency-contract">signed Matt Chapman to a similar pillow contract</a>, many believed the Giants were out of the Snell running. Rumors persisted, but news of the Alex Cobb’s impending return made it seem less likely that the Giants would win the sweepstakes.</p>
<p id="GZdtNh">Win them they did! A year after Snell and Giants ace Logan Webb finished back-to-back in the Cy Young voting, the two will be paired together, which represents a reunion for Snell and new Giants manager Bob Melvin. </p>
<p id="J0qZYZ">It will cost the Giants a pretty penny, but not nearly the pretty penny that was expected when the offseason began. <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/11/9/23954777/giants-free-agency-contract-projections-shohei-ohtani-yoshinobu-yamamoto-cody-bellinger-matt-chapman">Contract projections at the start of the offseason</a> ranged from five years and $135 million (The Athletic) to seven years and $200 million (MLB Trade Rumors). The Giants will pay a maximum of $62 million, in addition to losing a third-round draft pick and $500,000 in international signing bonus pool money, the result of Snell being tendered a Qualifying Offer by the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>. </p>
<p id="Zwsni5">With Snell now in the fold, and <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/17152522/injury-news-ethan-small-oblique-jung-hoo-lee-hamstring-alex-cobb-back-sooner-than-expected">Cobb nearing a return</a>, the Giants are suddenly holding one of the most exciting rotations in baseball: Snell, Webb, Cobb, the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball (Kyle Harrison), and a flamethrower reliever converted to the rotation (Jordan Hicks) ... all with Keaton Winn and Mason Black waiting in the wings, with Robbie Ray and Tristan Beck expected back around the All-Star break. </p>
<p id="BYyzaw">Snell recently pitched a showcase for teams in Seattle, and threw in excess of 60 pitches. That suggests that he could be up to speed in time to make the Opening Day roster. </p>
<p id="HKiJYZ">A 31-year old southpaw, Snell is coming off a dynamic but bizarre season in which he led the Majors (in the good way) in ERA (2.25) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.8), while also leading the Majors (in the bad way) in walks issued (99). He and Webb represent dramatically different approaches to similarly fantastic results. </p>
<p id="tfgx5Z">While Snell was clearly looking for a long-term contract, he — like a handful of high-priced free agents represented by Scott Boras — saw question marks and red flags cost him the security of a long-term deal. Between walks and injuries, Snell has had a roller-coaster of a career — 2023 was just the second time in his eight-year career that he’d pitched at least 130 innings in a season ... though he’s won the Cy Young Award both times. He’s only a few years removed from sporting a 4.20 ERA in 2021, the third time in his career that his ERA has started with a four.</p>
<p id="CTUqo2">But there’s no denying he’s one of baseball’s best starting pitchers, and the Giants rotational depth — even if at times unproven — allows them to take on the risk of him having a blip in performance. It’s also a great situation for Snell: he’ll head to one of the best pitcher parks in baseball and, if he pitches well, can re-enter free agency next offseason without the Qualifying Offer attached to him ... and with a second-straight year of proven excellence. </p>
<p id="MXeHIW">With this signing, the Giants have now signed a whopping five of <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2024-top-50-mlb-free-agents/">Fangraphs’ top-50 free agents</a> this year: No. 5 (Snell), No. 7 (Chapman), No. 14 (Jung Hoo Lee), No. 19 (Jorge Soler), and No. 32 (Hicks). And that’s in addition to signing Tom Murphy and trading for Ray. </p>
<p id="5tsIpp">Pretty damn good offseason, if you ask me. </p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/18/24105459/giants-free-agency-blake-snell-contractBrady Klopfer2024-03-18T11:16:41-07:002024-03-18T11:16:41-07:00Community Prospect List No. 36
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<img alt="Ismael Munguia posing at media day with a bat on his shoulder. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AmkS02cK1dTTDZbuz7unwn38mn4=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73215796/2036329419.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Zac BonDurant/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who is the 36th-best prospect on the Giants farm? </p> <p id="Xb6Rd2">We’ve began the final stretch as we continue to work towards the end of the 2024 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, which will see us ran the top 44 prospects in the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> organization.</p>
<p id="EyLIak">Next up on the list is a serious fan favorite: it’s outfielder Ismael Munguia, who has been voted as the No. 35 prospect in the Giants system. Munguia returns to the CPL after a one-year hiatus — he was voted as the No. 25 prospect before the 2022 season, but after losing that entire season due to injury, he was absent on last year’s list.</p>
<p id="Qhc1ba">Now he’s back, in part due to an absolutely phenomenal performance at Spring Training where, as of this writing, he’s hitting 12-24 with two home runs, one double, two walks, just two strikeouts, and four stolen bases. </p>
<p id="ff9w9J">Munguia, a left-handed hitter who plays all over the outfield, had a very strong 2023. Despite having lost all of 2022, he hit the ground running to start the season, making his AA debut with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, where he reached base five times in the first two games. He had an injury setback that kept him away from Richmond for two months in late spring and early summer, but still played 75 games in AA, finishing the year hitting .282/.356/.391, with a 110 wRC+ and 16 stolen bases in 20 attempts. </p>
<p id="OLv38v">His contact skills were on full display with Richmond. Not only did he hit .282, but his strikeout rate of 13.4% was second-lowest among 104 Eastern League hitters (minimum: 250 plate appearances). </p>
<p id="jcYpNc">I’d guess he’ll start the year in AAA and, especially after impressing the coaches in Scottsdale over the last month, could be considered as a depth option in the Majors this year if he plays well. And he’ll have plenty of people rooting for him.</p>
<p id="Jq6KMS">Now let’s add a name to the list! </p>
<h3 id="Bh0nHZ"><strong>The list so far</strong></h3>
<ol>
<li id="7eM1vS"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/15/24003014/giants-prospects-rankings-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Kyle Harrison — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="QHptUi"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/18/24006470/giants-prospect-rankings-kyle-harrison"><strong>Marco Luciano — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="NptDN1"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/20/24009759/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-marco-luciano"><strong>Bryce Eldridge — 1B</strong></a></li>
<li id="CchZy6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/22/24012434/giants-prospect-rankings-bryce-eldridge"><strong>Carson Whisenhunt — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="ZzMmIE"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/27/24016645/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-whisenhunt"><strong>Rayner Arias — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="91aT5m"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/29/24018936/giants-prospect-rankings-rayner-arias"><strong>Keaton Winn — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="JF4miM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/1/24021653/giants-prospect-rankings-keaton-winn"><strong>Walker Martin — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="dd3USP"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/3/24024055/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-walker-martin"><strong>Reggie Crawford — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="J74UtR"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/5/24026994/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-reggie-crawford"><strong>Hayden Birdsong — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="orXid5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/8/24030311/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-hayden-birdsong-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Mason Black — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="1wYH3x"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/10/24033284/giants-prospect-rankings-mason-black"><strong>Wade Meckler — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="dms4Is"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/12/24036491/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-wade-meckler"><strong>Grant McCray — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="amX0ik"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/17/24041844/giants-prospect-rankings-grant-mccray"><strong>Heliot Ramos — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6cGmkF"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/19/24044357/giants-prospect-rankings-heliot-ramos-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Aeverson Arteaga — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="LfT7zV"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/22/24047054/giants-prospect-rankings-aeverson-arteaga"><strong>Tyler Fitzgerald — UTIL</strong></a></li>
<li id="H1Zpf9"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/24/24049306/giants-prospect-rankings-tyler-fitzgerald-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Joe Whitman — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="TqMMm5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/26/24052007/giants-prospect-rankings-joe-whitman-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Vaun Brown — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="9d1J1k"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/29/24054660/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-vaun-brown"><strong>Landen Roupp — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="4lnEop"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/31/24057247/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-landen-roupp"><strong>Victor Bericoto — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="Y6YKho"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/2/24059433/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-victor-bericoto"><strong>Trevor McDonald — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="sXS6ob"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/5/24062477/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-trevor-mcdonald"><strong>Diego Velasquez — 2B/SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="oB5GxH"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/7/24065142/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-diego-velasquez"><strong>Carson Seymour — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="g4DAU3"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/9/24067820/giants-prospect-rankings-carson-seymour"><strong>Kai-Wei Teng — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="GoAk1c"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/12/24070769/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-kai-wei-teng"><strong>Onil Perez — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="B01Bpf"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/14/24073084/giants-prospects-rankings-onil-perez"><strong>Adrian Sugastey — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="HKNTuO"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/16/24075275/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-adrian-sugastey-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="UBfGFz"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/21/24077560/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-gerelmi-maldonado"><strong>Maui Ahuna — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="fhEqWA"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/23/24081538/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-maui-ahuna"><strong>Erik Miller — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="riuysW"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/26/24084121/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-erik-miller-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Jairo Pomares — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6Y7h07"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/28/24085842/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jairo-pomares-minor-leagues"><strong>Cole Foster — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="riXTFM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/1/24087876/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-foster"><strong>Jack Choate — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="y4vgYM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/4/24090548/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jack-choate"><strong>Carson Ragsdale — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="YmGBJm"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/6/24092428/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-ragsdale"><strong>Randy Rodríguez — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="hE9BQ6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/8/24094726/giants-prospects-minor-league-rankings-randy-rodriguez"><strong>Cole Waites — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="y1Hz5E"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/24102182/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-waites-minor-leagues"><strong>Ismael Munguia — OF</strong></a></li>
</ol>
<p id="C1KSuT"><em>Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.</em></p>
<p id="skEyw1">On to No. 36!</p>
<h2 id="gBQlwQ"><strong>No. 36 prospect nominees</strong></h2>
<p id="U3BS52"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bostic000jos"><strong>Josh</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/louis-bostick/sa3022857/stats?position=P"><strong>Bostick</strong></a> — 22.4-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/3.23 FIP in ACL (4.2 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dabovi000rj-"><strong>R.J.</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/roderick-dabovich/sa3014431/stats?position=P"><strong>Dabovich</strong></a> — 25.2-year old RHP — 20.25 ERA/8.45 FIP in AAA (2.2 IP)<br><strong>Johnny Level</strong> — 16.11-year old SS — yet to debut<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=merced003man"><strong>Manuel</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/manuel-mercedes/sa3015214/stats?position=P"><strong>Mercedes</strong></a> — 21.5-year old RHP — 3.64 ERA/4.26 FIP in Low-A (106.1 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sanche014jua"><strong>Juan</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/juan-sanchez/sa3005444/stats?position=P"><strong>Sánchez</strong></a> — 23.4-year old LHP — 2.39 ERA/3.17 FIP in AA (49 IP); 4.26 ERA/4.78 FIP in AAA (25.1 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=simon-000lia"><strong>Liam</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/liam-simon/sa3020256/stats?position=P"><strong>Simon</strong></a> — 23.4-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/2.96 FIP in Low-A (21 IP)</p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/18/24105020/giants-prospect-rankings-ismael-munguia-minorsBrady Klopfer2024-03-18T05:00:00-07:002024-03-18T05:00:00-07:00Monday BP: Keaton Winn is, impressively, still on track
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<img alt="Keaton Winn standing in front of coaches at a Spring Training bullpen. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Gg8ylxCt35XFV7cTP-eZWQn6TVE=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214748/2011417646.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Opening week starter! </p> <p id="vaCHF6">Suddenly the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> rotation, while still highly unproven, has significantly fewer question marks. For a while it looked like Alex Cobb would be gone for a few months, while promising youngsters Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck would be sidelined through Opening Day. </p>
<p id="sj0Rrb">That remains true for Beck, but against all odds, Cobb pitched in a Minor League game on Saturday, and <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/17152522/injury-news-ethan-small-oblique-jung-hoo-lee-hamstring-alex-cobb-back-sooner-than-expected">now looks slated for an early-to-mid April return</a>. And the Blake Snell rumor mill <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/17/12070020/the-giants-have-the-best-marketing-team-in-baseball">is getting very hot again</a>. And now Winn is providing optimism.</p>
<p id="XCNSJZ">The powerful righty starter, penciled into the rotation seemingly from the moment Bob Melvin took over as manager, was dealt an injury setback at the very start of camp. While others were ramping up, he was sidelined. While others were pitching in game after game after game, he was sidelined. As we got closer to March 28’s opener, it seemed highly unlikely that Winn would be ready in time.</p>
<p id="tMS1Yl">But now it looks like he will be. Winn made his 2024 Cactus League debut in the Giants’ 5-3 loss to the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com">Colorado Rockies</a> on Sunday. He pitched 1.2 innings and gave up two hits, one walk, one hit batter, and one run, with three strikeouts, and got some more pitches in the bullpen after leaving the game. And afterwards it became very clear that the Giants still view Winn as one of the rotation members when the Opening Day roster is set. </p>
<p id="yimBjU">According to the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/giants-keaton-winn-returns-remains-track-no-19166683.php">San Francisco Chronicle’s Shayna Rubin</a>, “Even before Keaton Winn got on the mound this spring, San Francisco Giants brass and coaches have made clear that the right-hander is expected to fill the fourth rotation spot come the first week of the regular season.” Rubin notes that Winn, while being the fourth name chosen for the rotation, will likely slide into the fifth slot to buy him maximum time, which would mean making his season debut on April 1 against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>. </p>
<p id="RpDXZq">Needless to say, that’s quite encouraging!</p>
<h3 id="UgWHOB"><strong>How many days until Opening Day?</strong></h3>
<p id="ozXduB">It’s time to start the countdown! There are only 10 days remaining! </p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/18/24104602/san-francisco-giants-rotation-keaton-winnBrady Klopfer2024-03-17T17:24:49-07:002024-03-17T17:24:49-07:00Are you still invested in the Blake Snell sweepstakes?
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<img alt="San Diego Padres v Houston Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GyBvyyhND-O-IXrZrPQvfi11iDE=/0x0:3647x2431/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73214125/1668754743.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Multiple reports point towards the Giants still in on the player — does adding the 2023 NL Cy Young at this point really make the 2024 team better, though?</p> <p id="HcbjHk">This winter, I’ve written about Blake Snell way more than I’d ever thought about him previously and if you read through all these articles... </p>
<p id="wUtWxO"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/8/20801321/blake-snell-and-jordan-montgomery-should-come-play-for-the-san-francisco-giants">Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery should come play for the Giants</a></p>
<p id="SodPTX"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/27/12011676/san-francisco-giants-rumors-still-have-interest-in-blake-snell-and-matt-chapman-madison-bumgarner">Blake Snell (and Matt Chapman) remain on Giants’ radar, per Susan Slusser report</a></p>
<p id="hpUtVd"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/1/15368246/san-francisco-giants-2024-key-spring-training-storylines-ranked-bob-melvin-kyle-harrison-blake-snell">Key Spring Training storylines, ranked</a></p>
<p id="M510GD"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/20/11132062/why-shouldnt-the-san-francisco-giants-sign-the-boras-four-bellinger-snell-chapman-montgomery">Why shouldn’t the Giants sign all four of “The Boras Four?”</a></p>
<p id="40t2sj"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/24/7422895/the-robbie-ray-blake-snell-comparison-chart-san-francisco-giants-maximize-flexibility-with-big-trade">The Robbie Ray-Blake Snell comparison chart</a></p>
<p id="VDDkO6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/17/20835213/san-francisco-giants-pitching-targets-after-failing-to-land-yoshinobu-yamamoto-snell-imanaga-manaea">Leftist thought — “He’s sort of like the pitching version of Cody Bellinger, where there are some scary underlying numbers preventing evaluators from tagging him with a ‘simply the best’ label.”</a></p>
<p id="p4nAtT">I’m sure you’d arrive at the same question as I have: “Do I want the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> to sign the reigning NL Cy Young?” I honestly don’t know. No, seriously. If you stopped me on the street or online and asked me straight out, I’d say, “I don’t know.”</p>
<p id="k5c7az">With news coming fast and furiously over the weekend that the Giants are one of the teams watching Blake Snell throw some showcase innings...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Giants reportedly had scouts in attendance at Blake Snell's simulated game on Friday in Seattle <a href="https://t.co/d4kh6dJXJK">https://t.co/d4kh6dJXJK</a></p>— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSGiants/status/1768808764508144127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2024</a>
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<p id="EmjlAn">... and Snell asking for a deal that has a <em><strong>ZAIDI-APPROVED </strong></em>decal on the side of it...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nightengale <br><br>"Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell has informed the Houston Astros that he’s willing to sign a short-term deal to join them, but is seeking at least a two-year guarantee for $66 million, that includes an opt-out after the 2024 season." <a href="https://t.co/Y5cBkvWXbY">pic.twitter.com/Y5cBkvWXbY</a></p>— Bobby Milone (@BobbyMilone29) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMilone29/status/1769361472235176186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="NvoDR6">I guess we have to think about this vague possibility inching closer to a reality. For the moment, I’m not buying this other noise... </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update: The Astros appear to be long-shots to sign Blake Snell, with the Giants as the favorites, per <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BNightengale</a>. <br><br>What have I heard? It's my understanding that Houston and Snell have never been close in numbers through the whole process.</p>— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelschwab13/status/1769472173893132341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="s8OlP3">... because the Giants are in first position as the league’s stalking horse where they will remain for the rest of our lives; but, if beat writers like Susan Slusser are still confirming the team’s interest even this late into the offseason...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have been saying 50-50 since I was told that weeks ago and no one ever has backed off that.</p>— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1769462831957811437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="MMo2Hz">... then we have to deal with it as a group. It’s worth blogging about, anyway. </p>
<p id="quOe4x">We all know the reliability of Bob Nightengale or situations where Scott Boras is involved is sort of a good sign that the Giants are <em>not </em>serious factors — indeed, we never really heard the Giants as being part of a collection of teams interested in Matt Chapman, which might’ve signaled that they were the primary party or that the Giants always had the highest offer. Let’s assume that the Giants are not the preferred destination, but they might have in a bid equal to the other interested teams. </p>
<p id="vafLPn"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/13/17203236/san-francisco-giants-miss-out-on-rhp-dylan-cease-per-jon-heyman-report">When I looked at the Padres’ trade for the</a> <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>’s RHP Dylan Cease, I indicated that it was only bad news for the Giants because it probably pushed the Padres a bit ahead of them in the NL West power rankings/end of season standings. That <em>could </em>have an impact on their Wild Card chances, <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/20759411/84-is-the-floor-san-francisco-giants-2024-season-expectations">but on Friday I suggested that a Wild Card berth wouldn’t be imperative</a> to demonstrate that the team is making progress as it enters year 7 of its rebuild. </p>
<p id="IC7uWi">In a way, Dylan Cease is the right-handed version of Blake Snell. Cease has a career BB9 of 4.0, Snell’s is 4.1. Cease has two more years of team control at arbitration prices and has averaged more innings (176) than Snell over the past three seasons (146). Snell will also cost the Giants a pick in next year’s draft and push the team into the first luxury tax threshold; on the other hand, Cease would’ve cost 3-4 of the Giants’ top prospects they really can’t afford to part with. </p>
<p id="FXOalU">I know, I know, it’s cool to discount a player’s accomplishments and Blake Snell has hit 180 innings just twice in his career — both of them being his Cy Young seasons, both of those Cy Youngs being in either league — but for those of you discounting the player, you do have to wonder why the Giants are interested in him at this point in the process if their team is already awesome. Wouldn’t adding him make the team better?</p>
<p id="ShFDXV">Well, that depends too, right? He’s almost certainly going to miss the first month of the season as he ramps up to baseball activities, and sure, maybe Alex Cobb is able to come back in April to offset that deficit and the Giants are able to stay afloat in the first month of the season, but they’d basically be spending a lot to add in <em>another </em>pitcher who’s not going to help them for the first 3-4 weeks. </p>
<p id="du4hqA">I guess we should <em>want </em>the Giants to get the best players though, right? That makes sense to me. In that Cease piece I mentioned that the Giants really can’t add very much to their roster to improve their chances of being good, but at the same time — since the team is still showing interest — what’s the harm in trying? Snell’s Cy Young seasons were 4.7 fWAR in 2018 and 4.1 in 2023 (oof — that 2.25 ERA did a lot of work for him, didn’t it?), but in 2019 he was at 2.7 fWAR, 2.1 in 2021, and 3.6 in 2022. </p>
<p id="0ccY6a">In his three seasons with the Padres he was worth basically 10 WAR. The last two seasons were under Bob Melvin’s management and they wound up being the second and third best years of his career. If we’re applying the “hey, Melvin’s staff helped Seth Lugo convert to a starter” logic to the case of Jordan Hicks, then I’d think that continuity would help Snell.</p>
<p id="5H1zfE">I don’t know, folks. Maybe the Giants would look very smart getting a year or two of a 95-mph throwing lefty who has been <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&month=0&ind=0&startdate=&enddate=&season1=2021&season=2023&sortcol=13&sortdir=default&pagenum=1">an above average starting pitcher the past three seasons</a>. The downsides are paying the luxury tax, losing a draft pick, losing $500,000 in international bonus pool money, injury/ineffectiveness, and only getting 5/6 of the potential impact unless the team makes the postseason. The upside is that the team has a rotation of Webb, Snell, Cobb, Harrison, and Hicks/Winn/Black with Robbie Ray waiting in the wings (<em>and </em>as an insurance policy for when/if Snell opts out). </p>
<p id="SdJJ8s">What do you think?</p>
<div id="wCcbEK"><div data-anthem-component="poll:12282090"></div></div>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/17/12070020/the-giants-have-the-best-marketing-team-in-baseballBryan Murphy2024-03-16T05:00:00-07:002024-03-16T05:00:00-07:00Weekend BP: J.D. Davis signs with A’s
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<img alt="J.D. Davis running the bases." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ITk8KWUSufi6p6O5Kax2YOQtolU=/0x0:7057x4705/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73211369/1691684812.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Giants East?</p> <p id="1VMMqh">J.D. Davis has found a new home. Scratch that: J.D. Davis has found a new <em>employer</em>; he might be staying in the same home. Roughly a week after <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/11/24096994/giants-news-jd-davis-waived">being surprisingly waived</a> by the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> — which cost him millions of dollars, thanks to a CBA loophole — Davis agreed to a contract with the Oakland A’s.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free-agent infielder J.D. Davis and the Oakland A’s are in agreement on a contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.</p>— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1768786394921759156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free agent J.D. Davis in agreement with A’s on one-year, $2.5M contract with $1M in incentives. Will play third base. First with agreement: <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ByRobertMurray</a></p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1768788271465914774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p id="CUC5bn">The A’s are a good team for Davis. He’ll stay in an area that he has openly enjoyed, get to play nearly every day, and hit in the middle of the lineup. Assuming he plays well — and there’s no reason to assume otherwise — he’ll likely be flipped to a contender at the trade deadline. </p>
<p id="mCzFCW">And he’ll be reunited with a few teammates from the 2023 Giants, as the A’s have also signed Alex Wood and Scott Alexander, and traded for Ross Stripling (plus a pair of Giants 2023 Minor Leaguers, Sean Newcomb and Armando Alvarez were signed by the A’s — the former on a Major League deal, and the latter on a Minor League contract with an invite to camp). </p>
<p id="loQkqn">Best of luck, J.D. — you got the short end of the stick, and I’m rooting for you.</p>
<p id="jaJfoU">In other Giants news, members of the organization were <a href="https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1768772558764343706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1768772558764343706%7Ctwgr%5E74aad835405cd0e1e03f5c558aa3f63f00c674c0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsportsbayarea.com%2Fmlb%2Fsan-francisco-giants%2Fblake-snell-simulated-game-astros-free-agent%2F1713645%2F">reportedly at Friday’s showcase</a> for Blake Snell, where the reigning Cy Young winner tried to show teams that he’s physically ready for Opening Day while angrily asking between pitches how the hell a player of his caliber is still unsigned in mid-March. </p>
<p id="SlzXpD">It remains the official stance of this website that the Giants should sign Snell.</p>
<h3 id="STzeGN"><strong>How many days until Opening Day?</strong></h3>
<p id="nFAcap">Only 12!!!</p>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/16/24102737/giants-athletics-jd-davis-contractBrady Klopfer2024-03-15T12:00:00-07:002024-03-15T12:00:00-07:0084 is the floor
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<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Giants have tried hard to not build up expectations, but unfortunately for them they have!</p> <p id="ZLuSnW">Spring brings renewal and hope and so let’s wipe away the pain of the past two seasons, let’s ignore <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2023/12/9/23988140/shohei-ohtani-picks-the-los-angeles-dodgers">the portents of more misery</a>, and just set an expectation for this season. I think we should expect the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> to win <strong>at least</strong> 84 games in 2024. </p>
<p id="Tkk8mb">Now, all baseball front offices are programmed to respond to inquires regarding expectations with noncommital pablum pushing ideas like sustainability and flexibility wrapped up in a broad idea of process over outcomes like wins and losses. But we aren’t being paid by the team. We don’t have to watch what we say to appease our boss(es). I don’t <em>want </em>to say “we’ll see.” I want to have expectations. We can have <em>an </em>expectation!</p>
<p id="GGpGve">We know the Giants won’t win the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> this year or probably not even the next 30 (baseball is very hard as we all know and, as they say, the playoffs are 100% random) and 84 wins might not even secure a Wild Card spot in 2024, but let’s set the floor for them anyway and view anything short of that as an unsuccesful season.</p>
<p id="keVgxI">Oh sure, there can be positives to carry forward from a 75 to 83-win team, and this year’s Giants team especially could stink but show flashes of promise with Kyle Harrison, Patrick Bailey’s bat, Casey Schmitt, Mason Black, etc. that would keep plenty of fans happy going into 2025, but look: the Giants are never going to win fewer than 75 games in a season because they follow sound sabermetric principles which don’t allow for anything less. Sustainability/flexibility/process is always pitching us on a future to obscure the present. </p>
<p id="jGep2c">Front offices are the ones building ships in a bottle or 40 Year Old Virgining their way through life...</p>
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<p id="AIzgRE">... but we’re fans of the team. We are coming to the process with a different set of priorities and interest. We don’t want a curated life — we want to see wins! Vicariously experience success! It’s not my problem that the Giants want to hold on to their prospects to see what happens — it’s their problem that I (and the public and ownership) will judge them based on the outcome(s) of that process! </p>
<p id="r5nZtZ">So, it’s 84 wins. <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/20/17887676/maybe-the-san-francisco-giants-dont-have-very-much-left-to-do-this-offseason-after-all">Not because ZiPS suggests as much</a>, not because a certain player or two will surprise, but because outside of the fluke 2021 season (that definitely happened but can never be explained or repeated) they haven’t won at least that many games since 2016, which in my judgment is too long a time.</p>
<p id="4c2o1y">What does 84 get them? I don’t know. I don’t want to know. Not right now, anyway. I see that win total and I can imagine an atomic explosion of disappointment late in September. Or an historic second half collapse (worse than what happened with their lineup last season). Or, more likely, a frustrating muddling through that will be exacerbated by the Martins of the world suggesting that it promises a better tomorrow (“yeah, but just think of all the experience the rookies gained for 2025 or 2026!”). </p>
<p id="atpMoA">I’m sorry to show my age here by both referencing the late-1900s classic television sitcom The Simpsons and using ancient technology known as a gif in order to reference said frustration + exacerbation: </p>
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<p id="iAvsUo">The <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> made it all the way to the World Series with an 84-78 record in 2023. The <em>Marlins </em>were 84-78. That is a modest record to desire and it’s a desire born of everything they’ve done this offseason. Rather than tease Bob Melvin for quotes like this (made before Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman were added)...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bob Melvin: "A lot is made that we haven't done a ton but we actually kind of have... it may be a little under the radar, some of these moves, but we feel really good about them." <a href="https://t.co/ra4mgDrRhy">pic.twitter.com/ra4mgDrRhy</a></p>— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/KNBR/status/1752815286787657781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a>
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<p id="Dxde5b">I say we embrace it and set our expectations based on it. Bob Melvin and his Humm Baby! coaching staff. Jung Hoo Lee. Matt Chapman. Jorge Soler. Jordan Hicks. A couple of months of Robbie Ray (maybe). Tom Murphy. These are quality moves that <em>raise</em> expectations. And then there are some returning players who have a chance to make a significant impact:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bob Melvin is excited to help Kyle Harrison get to the next level in 2024 <a href="https://t.co/0l38LMh5uf">pic.twitter.com/0l38LMh5uf</a></p>— KNBR (@KNBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/KNBR/status/1752823629778407506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a>
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<p id="aIelZy">A stronger defense probably improves the groundball pitching staff, too, and maybe the new coaching staff can coax positive development out of the likes of Luis Matos, Casey Schmitt, and Marco Luciano as the season progresses. There’s also <a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/patrick-bailey-is-a-unicorn-pitch-framer">Patrick Bailey’s defensive wizardry</a> and Tyler Fitzgerald’s utility. Alex Cobb <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/17152522/injury-news-ethan-small-oblique-jung-hoo-lee-hamstring-alex-cobb-back-sooner-than-expected">might return in April</a>. </p>
<p id="DlViSk">The Giants <em>are </em>better on paper than 2023 — or, at least, they have more potential upside. Yes, they could get blindsided by injuries. The soft spots on the roster could become sinkholes. The rest of the field simply got better than they did. There are always excuses we can make to wiggle out of putting a number on something — but again, let’s not do the front office’s job for them. We don’t have to echo the “play meaningful baseball as deep into the season as we can” <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Giants-Farhan-Zaidi-on-trades-We-don-t-14077545.php">sentiment</a>. </p>
<p id="pkr0Vb">If you’re hesitant to state a preferred win total because you feel that the team falling short of it makes your preference a criticism of the team, then I’d ask that you interrogate that a bit because all evidence points to players and coaches wanting to win. Front offices want to win, too, but they don’t want to say that too loud or too hard lest people hold them to it. </p>
<p id="2epLbP">84 wins is a modest proposal and the Giants have done a whole lot in free agency, trade, and their own player development that sets their course in that direction. Do they have a favorable wind at their back and a pilot good enough to weather any storms? We’ll find out; but in the meantime, let’s say that they do.</p>
<div id="jdOCHC"><div data-anthem-component="poll:12280327"></div></div>
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/20759411/84-is-the-floor-san-francisco-giants-2024-season-expectationsBryan Murphy2024-03-15T11:53:08-07:002024-03-15T11:53:08-07:00Community Prospect List No. 35
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<img alt="View from behind of Cole Waites throwing a pitch. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VDymupmdvdYFj8PASQzkIJK3p1M=/0x0:4500x3000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73210212/1489222022.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Who is the 35th-best prospect on the Giants farm? </p> <p id="fEKcp6">After a week-long hiatus so that yours truly could get some time in at Spring Training (where, despite catching just two games, I saw five of the players already ranked on this year’s CPL, plus the player I’m voting for today), the 2024 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List is back in action. We’re officially on the home stretch, with just 10 prospects left until we’ve ranked the top 44 in the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> organization. </p>
<p id="eM5nDO">Coming in at No. 34 is a player I fear many will forget by this time next year; though for now the community is firm in their opinion that we <em>shouldn’t </em>forget him. It’s right-handed reliever Cole Waites, who has been ranked as the 34th-best prospect in the system, which is a drop of 19 spots from his No. 15 ranking last year. </p>
<p id="QyroJ3">Waites — a 6’3 pitcher who will turn 26 this summer — had something of a breakout in 2022. Despite starting the year in High-A, and with just 30.2 professional innings to his name, Waites ended the season in San Francisco; the 2019 18th-rounder was the surprising winner of the “first Giant drafted by Farhan Zaidi to make the Majors” sweepstakes. He only pitched 5.2 innings in the Majors that season, with a 3.18 ERA and a quartet of both strikeouts and walks. But his performance in AA Richmond and AAA Sacramento — where he had a combined 49 strikeouts to just 18 walks and four earned runs in 29 innings — was enough to make him look like a crucial part of the Major League bullpen for the foreseeable future. </p>
<p id="o7GsGK">But 2023 presented a massive obstacle in the road. Waites entered last offseason looking like a frontrunner to win a bullpen job out of the gates, but was injured before Spring Training got started. He returned at the end of spring, appearing in one preseason game and starting the year on AAA Sacramento’s active roster.</p>
<p id="9c1Tk5">Something was off with his performance, though. Waites struggled with the River Cats, and in a brief appearance with the Giants. It wasn’t just the results, though; his pitches had visibly less life and quantifiably less velocity. After struggling his way to a 6.16 ERA, with 7.9 walks per nine innings in AAA, Waites was shut down in July with elbow soreness. We all know that elbow soreness in pitchers makes everyone hold their breath, and two months later it was revealed that Waites would undergo Tommy John surgery. His 2024 season was over before the 2023 season had even concluded. </p>
<p id="9E9n7S">Due to the long recovery time for TJ, Waites — who was non-tendered and re-signed to a Minor League deal (presumably a well-compensated one) over the offseason — will be on the sidelines all year, but that timeline should put him on track to return at or near the start of the 2025 season. Assuming he makes a full recovery, he’ll return with a fastball that ranks among the very best pitches in the Giants system ... and arguably among the very best fastballs in all of professional baseball. </p>
<p id="UzNylO">Here’s hoping the recovery is smooth, and Waites returns at the same level he showed us when 2022 wrapped up.</p>
<p id="Nq7Y00">Now let’s add to the list. We’ve got new names to vote on today! </p>
<h3 id="Bh0nHZ"><strong>The list so far</strong></h3>
<ol>
<li id="7eM1vS"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/15/24003014/giants-prospects-rankings-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Kyle Harrison — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="QHptUi"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/18/24006470/giants-prospect-rankings-kyle-harrison"><strong>Marco Luciano — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="NptDN1"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/20/24009759/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-marco-luciano"><strong>Bryce Eldridge — 1B</strong></a></li>
<li id="CchZy6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/22/24012434/giants-prospect-rankings-bryce-eldridge"><strong>Carson Whisenhunt — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="ZzMmIE"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/27/24016645/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-whisenhunt"><strong>Rayner Arias — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="91aT5m"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2023/12/29/24018936/giants-prospect-rankings-rayner-arias"><strong>Keaton Winn — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="JF4miM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/1/24021653/giants-prospect-rankings-keaton-winn"><strong>Walker Martin — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="dd3USP"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/3/24024055/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-walker-martin"><strong>Reggie Crawford — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="J74UtR"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/5/24026994/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-reggie-crawford"><strong>Hayden Birdsong — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="orXid5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/8/24030311/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-hayden-birdsong-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Mason Black — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="1wYH3x"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/10/24033284/giants-prospect-rankings-mason-black"><strong>Wade Meckler — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="dms4Is"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/12/24036491/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-wade-meckler"><strong>Grant McCray — CF</strong></a></li>
<li id="amX0ik"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/17/24041844/giants-prospect-rankings-grant-mccray"><strong>Heliot Ramos — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6cGmkF"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/19/24044357/giants-prospect-rankings-heliot-ramos-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Aeverson Arteaga — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="LfT7zV"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/22/24047054/giants-prospect-rankings-aeverson-arteaga"><strong>Tyler Fitzgerald — UTIL</strong></a></li>
<li id="H1Zpf9"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/24/24049306/giants-prospect-rankings-tyler-fitzgerald-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Joe Whitman — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="TqMMm5"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/26/24052007/giants-prospect-rankings-joe-whitman-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Vaun Brown — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="9d1J1k"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/29/24054660/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-vaun-brown"><strong>Landen Roupp — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="4lnEop"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/1/31/24057247/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-landen-roupp"><strong>Victor Bericoto — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="Y6YKho"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/2/24059433/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-victor-bericoto"><strong>Trevor McDonald — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="sXS6ob"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/5/24062477/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-trevor-mcdonald"><strong>Diego Velasquez — 2B/SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="oB5GxH"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/7/24065142/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-diego-velasquez"><strong>Carson Seymour — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="g4DAU3"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/9/24067820/giants-prospect-rankings-carson-seymour"><strong>Kai-Wei Teng — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="GoAk1c"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/12/24070769/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-kai-wei-teng"><strong>Onil Perez — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="B01Bpf"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/14/24073084/giants-prospects-rankings-onil-perez"><strong>Adrian Sugastey — C</strong></a></li>
<li id="HKNTuO"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/16/24075275/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-adrian-sugastey-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Gerelmi Maldonado — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="UBfGFz"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/21/24077560/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-gerelmi-maldonado"><strong>Maui Ahuna — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="fhEqWA"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/23/24081538/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-maui-ahuna"><strong>Erik Miller — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="riuysW"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/26/24084121/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-erik-miller-minor-league-baseball"><strong>Jairo Pomares — OF</strong></a></li>
<li id="6Y7h07"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/2/28/24085842/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jairo-pomares-minor-leagues"><strong>Cole Foster — SS</strong></a></li>
<li id="riXTFM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/1/24087876/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-foster"><strong>Jack Choate — LHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="y4vgYM"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/4/24090548/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-jack-choate"><strong>Carson Ragsdale — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="YmGBJm"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/6/24092428/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-carson-ragsdale"><strong>Randy Rodríguez — RHP</strong></a></li>
<li id="hE9BQ6"><a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/8/24094726/giants-prospects-minor-league-rankings-randy-rodriguez"><strong>Cole Waites — RHP</strong></a></li>
</ol>
<p id="C1KSuT"><em>Note: Clicking on the above names will link to the CPL where they were voted onto the list.</em></p>
<p id="skEyw1">On to No. 35!</p>
<h2 id="gBQlwQ"><strong>No. 35 prospect nominees</strong></h2>
<p id="U3BS52"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bostic000jos"><strong>Josh</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/louis-bostick/sa3022857/stats?position=P"><strong>Bostick</strong></a> — 22.4-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/3.23 FIP in ACL (4.2 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dabovi000rj-"><strong>R.J.</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/roderick-dabovich/sa3014431/stats?position=P"><strong>Dabovich</strong></a> — 25.2-year old RHP — 20.25 ERA/8.45 FIP in AAA (2.2 IP)<br><strong>Johnny Level</strong> — 16.11-year old SS — yet to debut<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=merced003man">Manuel</a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/manuel-mercedes/sa3015214/stats?position=P">Mercedes</a> — 21.5-year old RHP — 3.64 ERA/4.26 FIP in Low-A (106.1 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mungui000ism">Ismael</a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ismael-munguia/sa917132/stats?position=OF">Munguia</a> — 25.4-year old OF — .748 OPS/110 wRC+ in AA (335 PA)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sanche014jua">Juan</a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/juan-sanchez/sa3005444/stats?position=P">Sanchez</a> — 23.4-year old LHP — 2.39 ERA/3.17 FIP in AA (49 IP); 4.26 ERA/4.78 FIP in AAA (25.1 IP)<br><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=simon-000lia"><strong>Liam</strong></a> <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/liam-simon/sa3020256/stats?position=P"><strong>Simon</strong></a> — 23.4-year old RHP — 3.86 ERA/2.96 FIP in Low-A (21 IP)</p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/24102182/san-francisco-giants-prospect-rankings-cole-waites-minor-leaguesBrady Klopfer2024-03-15T10:30:00-07:002024-03-15T10:30:00-07:00Injury news: Ethan Small out for “several weeks” with an oblique issue; Jung Hoo Lee has hamstring issue; Alex Cobb back soon??
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<img alt="Texas Rangers v San Francisco Giants" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iutSkricDKfRCVCXTihR1jOfZq0=/0x0:7471x4981/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73209987/2061699300.0.jpg" />
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<p>The Giants’ lefty reliever battle snaps into focus. Meanwhile, the Giants’ best hitter/leadoff hitter has the type of injury that tends to linger. Unless...</p> <p id="Xb3D7K">Let’s start with the tremendously great news: </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Cobb will throw 2 innings in a minor league game tomorrow, there's a real chance he returns in April at this point. LHP Ethan Small will miss several weeks with an oblique strain; Giants remain pretty light on LH relievers.</p>— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) <a href="https://twitter.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1768670826390557094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p id="lDhq65">Getting Alex Cobb back in April would be a tremendous boon for the 2024 <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>. I think the majority of fans would’ve felt a whole lot better about the offseason’s development on the pitching side of things if Alex Cobb had always been part of the plan <em>to start the season</em>. Some point in April is <em>not </em>the same as starting the season with the team, to be sure, but it’s a good reason to feel a <em>lot </em>better about the team getting off to a solid start.</p>
<p id="hVJgwj">Cobb might not be the big, bright #2 starter/co-ace people think about, but the Giants are hoping that label can be affixed to Kyle Harrison anyway. Cobb definitely had a down season last year (1.8 fWAR in 151.1 IP) as compared to his 2022 (3.7 fWAR in 149.2 IP), but remember: he was an All-Star! He ended the first half with a 2.91 ERA (3.01 FIP) in 89.2 IP. That second half — 5.25 ERA (5.46 FIP) in 61.2 IP — is what led to offseason hip surgery, which made his start date in 2024 uncertain. </p>
<p id="zicTIO">So, it’s safe to say that <em>when healthy</em>, Cobb is at least the third-best starter on staff with flashes of being a #2 or a #1. Adding him back in to a rotation with Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, and Jordan Hicks means the team can slow play innings for their younger arms or let them bounce around in their roles. And adding him back so soon might very well mean the Giants don’t have to try to sell their fans on a 24-36 start being meaningless because there are now 3 Wild Card spots.</p>
<p id="3EFbx3">Of course, Alex Cobb and his turbo sinker — which, as Grant Brisbee wrote about yesterday for The Athletic, will get a massive assist from Matt Chapman & Nick Ahmed (<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F5339064%2F2024%2F03%2F14%2Fsf-giants-improved-defense-nick-ahmed%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mccoveychronicles.com%2F2024%2F3%2F15%2F17152522%2Finjury-news-ethan-small-oblique-jung-hoo-lee-hamstring-alex-cobb-back-sooner-than-expected" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">subscription required</a>) — doesn’t come without risk. Just as development isn’t linear, neither is rehab, and Cobb might not come back at full strength; and, given his entire major league career, it’s unlikely he’ll stay healthy for the full season whenever he makes his season debut. </p>
<p id="vOOyvE">But for now, an April return — even late in April — is a fantastic piece of news for the Giants. At this point in the offseason/Spring Training, adding in Blake Snell almost seems counterintuitive. Given the late start to his season, Snell would basically be ready to pitch at the same time as Cobb might very well be. Not to say one is better than the other, but the Giants getting back a key arm in the first month of the season will help them stay competitive against a very tough field. </p>
<p id="SEKGVE">On the other hand, the Giants will be without LHP Ethan Small for “several weeks,” according to this Susan Slusser post:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ethan Small is out with an oblique strain and will miss several weeks. That leaves Juan Sanchez and Amir Garrett as the LH relievers in camp vying for that second lefty job.</p>— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/1768670609037525270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p id="6c9oAd">I’ll work backwards from why this is a big deal: Small was drafted as a starting pitcher and has made most of his pro appearances <em>as </em>a starter, up until last season when the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> began using him as a reliever. That suggests to me that he’s more of a left-handed swingman/bulk innings guy... aka an occasional starter. </p>
<p id="XXYn8D">But also — and most importantly — it does leave that left-handed reliever battle down to two high variable arms in Juan Sanchez and Amir Garrett. Garrett’s last two seasons (both with Kansas City) have been weird, but very reliever-y. In 2022, a 4.96 ERA <em>but </em>a 3.40 FIP. Last year, a 3.33 ERA <em>but </em>a 5.56 FIP. In both seasons — and in most seasons — he’s been a high walk guy (6.2 BB/9 or 15.5% if you prefer rates). You look at the list of relievers with the walk propensity of Amir Garrett over the past three seasons and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&type=1&month=0&ind=0&pageitems=30&sortcol=7&sortdir=default&qual=110&stats=rel&startdate=&enddate=&season1=2021&season=2023">it’s a real who’s eww</a>. </p>
<p id="3iBvmg">Meanwhile, Sanchez is just 23 years old and has pitched just 25.1 innings above Double-A (all coming last season with the River Cats). Risky and tricky. Although he’s had a nice spring (1.50 ERA in 6 IP with 8 K against 0 walks). Ethan Small was not having a terrific spring (9.53 ERA in 5.1 IP; 10 hits allowded, although an 8:3 K:BB) and neither has Garrett. We’ll see if Garrett’s relationship with pitching coach Bryan Price makes the difference. </p>
<p id="eBXcSJ">But I’m rooting for Sanchez because he’s 5’9”... need some short guy representation on my favorite baseball squadron.</p>
<p id="rwsKil">Finally, some tough news for the Jung Hooligans...</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Giants say Jung Hoo Lee has left hamstring tightness and will be limited the next 2-3 days.</p>— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) <a href="https://twitter.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1768670253851234768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2024</a>
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<p id="mvwlcA">This could very well be “out of an abundance of caution”-type moves, but hopefully, it is not a portent of things to come. Plenty of speedy players have had hamstring issues and it <em>is </em>Spring Training, but we’ve also seen plenty of players have chronic hamstring issues that hamper careers. Technically, since this is Spring Training and none of this counts, I guess we must discount the possibility of this being anything more than a few days off for a key player in 2024. </p>
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https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/3/15/17152522/injury-news-ethan-small-oblique-jung-hoo-lee-hamstring-alex-cobb-back-sooner-than-expectedBryan Murphy