Giants Content with Current Roster

Perhaps the biggest signature of the Giants' 2012 season was the team chemistry they had on their roster for that World Series run. So much so that Brian Sabean made it a priority to keep the status quo, and it's showed in the way they've approached this offseason.

Aside from re-signing some of their own key components from 2012, the Giants have been as quiet as a mouse in terms of acquiring talent from outside sources. The only guy who projects to be on the 25 man roster who wasn't with the team in 2012 is Andres Torres, but other than that, they'll be relying on the same recipe for success to repeat itself in 2013. Now, on one hand, I'm extremely happy the team found a way to keep guys like Marco Scutaro, Angel Pagan and Jeremy Affeldt in San Francisco for the next few years, but on the other, I keep thinking of ways they could improve themselves for 2013. I know they didn't need to make a big splash for a Josh Hamilton or Zack Grienke, but this team did have some flaws in 2012 that I felt could have been addressed this offseason. I've talked about the need for another right-handed bat in the outfield many times, but solidifying the bullpen and shoring up their backup infield spots should have been higher priorities as well, in my opinion. Torres helps fill some of the outfield void, but his bat has really disappeared the last year and a half and if he and Blanco don't hit, it'll leave this team searching for help again by mid-season. Not that they have gaping holes necessarily, but they have spots they could improve upon and apparently don't feel the urgency to do so.

Again though, it's the same team that did win it all just a few months back, so it's tough to argue with the decisions Brian Sabean and company have made. I just see them adding these minor league relievers like Scott Proctor and then see a guy like Jason Frasor sign for $1.5 million and wonder why the Giants weren't more actively pursuing Frasor rather than settling on someone who hasn't been successful in the bigs in half a decade. The bullpen is the one spot where I was expecting them to bring in some outside help this winter, especially after non-tendering Brian Wilson, but that hasn't been the case. It makes me wonder whether the Giants may still have intentions on bringing Wilson, who says he's getting close to signing with someone, back for 2013. I've stated a few times here since he became a free agent that this is still the best spot for him next season. He is expected to be ready to go by April, and although he may not be ready to return to his closer role right away, if he proves himself early on, you'd have to believe the Giants would have no problem putting him back in the 9th inning when he became ready. They have the closer-by-committee deal set-up again heading into this year, and although it did work out for them in 2012, they're a Sergio Romo elbow strain (or arrest), or a Jeremy Affeldt rotator cuff injury away from being suddenly shorthanded at the back end of their pen.

After their win in 2010, the Giants made it a priority to return the same group of guys for 2011 and things didn't work out so well. I know this team has a different make-up, and is a lot younger with more upside, but even world champs tend to make improvements and tweaks to their roster to optimize their team. Hopefully the expected improvements from guys like Belt and Crawford, plus a rebound year from Timmy will be the only improvements they need, cause they don't really have the minor league depth to make those key in-season trades like they did last year.

Coming Up: We haven't been posting quite as frequently here in recent weeks, due largely in part to the teams in-activity, but also because I was flat out swamped during the holidays this year. That said, we should get back to our typical schedule of 2-3 posts per week shortly though, and I appreciate all the readers who continue to visit and contribute to our site. We also have a few Matt Cain Perfect Game Commemorative DVD's left to give away to our readers, and if your interested, please e-mail us with your thought on the Giants offseason so far, and whether or not your content with this returning roster and/or who else you'd like to see Sabean pursue.