The San Francisco Giants missed the playoffs last year after losing the division to their archrivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. But if history is any guide, the Giants should be better off next season: the Giants have won the World Series in each of the last three even-numbered years. They’ve also missed the playoffs in every one of the three odd-numbered years that followed those championships. Fans, of course, will take this as a sign that the Giants are sure to continue the cycle in 2016.
However, it’s going to take more than some even-year voodoo for the Giants to return to the winner’s circle next season. Here are two key offseason moves the Giants need to make if they want to be competitive in 2016.
Get a Starting Pitcher to Put Behind (or in Front of) Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner was so good in the 2014 postseason that he almost seemed to win the World Series for the Giants by himself. But Bumgarner can’t actually win the World Series on his own: we saw that this past year, as the San Francisco rotation struggled mightily behind Bumgarner and cost the Giants a playoff spot.
The Giants need rotation help behind Madison Bumgarner – or perhaps even in front of him, if they’re willing to spend the cash to secure a big-time ace. There is no shortage of top-notch pitchers on the market, so the Giants can make a splash if they want to. It may be too much to dream of Zack Greinke (though it would sure put smiles on the faces of Giants fans if they were to steal him from LA), but a guy like Jordan Zimmermann or Scott Kazmir might fit the bill. Mike Leake and John Lackey are slightly cheaper possibilities, and Leake is particularly attractive because of his age. The Giants have the money to get a solid pitcher, and it’s by far their greatest area of need, so look for them to sign a guy that you’ve heard of.
Add a Guy Who Can Play Left Field and/or Platoon in Center
The Giants outfield isn’t in crisis, but it could use a bit of help. Center fielder Angel Pagan struggled in 2015, so it wouldn’t hurt to find a guy to platoon with him. Right fielder Hunter Pence isn’t going anywhere, but finding a solid left fielder would be a smart move. That way, Gregor Blanco could continue to serve as a fourth outfielder and the Giants would get flexibility in their lineup without having to pick up the option on LF Nori Aoki, who has concussion concerns.
Don’t expect the Giants to sign a high-profile guy like CF Jason Heyward, though – the Giants will be looking for either a cost-effective everyday guy or an affordable platoon man that they can mix and match with Pagan and Blanco to play to matchups and give their guys some rest. Colby Rasmus and Dexter Fowler are probably among the, priciest guys the Giants would consider, though of course Rasmus is now unavailable. Of course, IF/OF Ben Zobrist would work, but that’s true for every team in the league and that fact will probably drive his asking price up too high.
Main image credit:
