'21 Giants Spring Training Preview

After a winter littered with quiet, under the radar signings, the Giants are finally set to assemble in Scottsdale this week to kick off the spring. 

With the opener slated for April 1st in Seattle, Gabe Kapler and company will have 6 weeks to figure out their best 26 to break camp with, but I'd say we have a pretty good idea as to how the majority of the roster will be constructed.

While Farhan Zaidi did mention the team is still actively seeking additional rotation help, the heavy lifting for the offseason is pretty much finished after the Jake McGee signing last week. 

A few arms the Giants have been linked to throughout the winter are still sitting on the market, including Cole Hamels, Julio Teheran and Jake Odorizzi, but I'm not expecting anything that big at this stage. If they do grab an arm, I could see someone like Gio Gonzalez or Brett Anderson, who could come in and play the Tyler Anderson role and provide depth to a rotation that doesn't have any. Heck, it could even end up being Tyler Anderson, who is still out there, but I think they can do better.

The McGee signing was a key one that may end up paying huge dividends over the course of the year. The guy was pretty lights out for the Dodgers in 2020 and if Reyes Moronta doesn't show he's in shape and ready for the closing role this spring, McGee would be the logical choice for save opportunities. He has a high strikeout rate and is pretty equally tough on both LHB and RHB. 

Although we're only at the start of spring and a ton can and will happen between now and April 1st, here's who I think will break north with the team for the opener:

Rotation: RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Johnny Cueto, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Anthony DeSclafini, RHP Logan Webb

This is likely the easiest area of the team to predict as they don't really have any other options at the moment. Tyler Beede should be back around May and provide some depth, but I'd imaging they'll take things slow with him. Other than this, Connor Menez seems like the next guy in line for starts and he should get some in the Cactus League. 

The Giants rotation was a weakness last year and although it's improved marginally, they barely had enough depth to make it through 60 games a year ago. This year they have to make it the full 162, so they will most likely need at least a few reinforcements. 

Bullpen: LHP Jake McGee, RHP Reyes Moronta, LHP Jarlin Garcia, RHP Tyler Rogers, LHP Caleb Barager, RHP Matt Wiseler, RHP Trevor Gott, RHP Dedniel Nunez 

Unlike the rotation, this is a very tough group to predict because the depth here right now will provide management with a ton of options out of the gate. The first six listed here are pretty much locks for spots, but the final 2 (or 3 should they break camp with 9 relievers) spots are very much up in the air. My guess right now is that if Gott pitches well in spring he'll earn a spot due to being out of options, and I'll give the leg up for that final spot to Nunez as he came over via the rule 5 draft and the Giants really like his arm. Also in this mix through are prospects Camilo Doval, Kervin Castro and Gregory Santos. I just watched some video on Doval and it's easy to see what all the hype is about. The right-hander has that explosive low-3/4 release that supplies good movement to go with that high-90's gas.

Then there are a group of veterans like Sam Selman, Wandy Peralta, Jay Jackson, Dominic Leone, Zach Littel and James Sherfy who will also be in the mix. John Brebbia will have a spot in the bullpen when he's ready to go as well, which should be no later than June, and he could end up being a late-inning option. Whether the Giants decide to break camp with 8 or 9 relievers, they should have no problem as far as options and have the depth to keep this area a strength all year. 

Lineup: C Buster Posey, 1B Brandon Belt*, 2B Donovan Solano, 3B Evan Longoria, SS Brandon Crawford, LF Alex Dickerson, CF Mauricio Dubon, RF Mike Yastrzemski

I'm not exactly sure how Kapler will fill out the lineup card, but this should be the group most nights, and probably opening night in Seattle. The only swap out may be Brandon Belt for Darin Ruf as Belt recovers from offseason surgery and the Giants most likely slated to face a lefty. Yaz was used a lot out of the leadoff spot last year vs. righties and that seems like a logical choice again. Kap never got to fill out a regular season lineup card with Buster in it and he could slot in anywhere from 2nd-6th. I can see Crawford getting most of his at-bats out of the 7th spot and Dubon 8th, but again, that will change depending on matchups and who else is in the lineup. 

This group has potential to be really fun to watch. Crawford, Belt and Longo should all be motivated heading into free agency, while Solano, Yaz and Dickerson continue their "late-blooming". Buster will be the wild card though. Catcher was their weak spot offensively last year and if he regained some of his pop during his year off, this lineup will be much better than the 2020 version.

Bench: IF Wilmer Flores, IF Tommy La Stella, C Curt Casali, OF Austin Slater, IF/OF Darin Ruf

Like with their bullpen, the Giants have to be pretty happy with the guys they've assembled on their bench the last couple of seasons. Flores, La Stella and Slater could start for a lot of teams and Ruf and Caseli are both capable of playing on a daily basis as well. It's easily the best Giants' bench I've seen here since the championship run. They traded for LaMonte Wade a few weeks ago, but he's got options and will likely open the year in Sacramento. Once highly regarded Steven Duggar is still with the Giants and could maybe become a factor at some point but I think the trade for Wade showed that they aren't counting on him making much of an impact.

Still supposedly keeping tabs on outfielders, if Zaidi does end up adding a true center fielder like Jackie Bradley Jr., and that bumps Dubon onto the bench, this group would become even more dangerous. As they stand now though, I like the depth and the options, especially vs. lefties, that Kapler has at his disposal.