Here are 3 predictions for the Giants in 2023
This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it usually in your inbox.
It’s been a rollercoaster offseason for the Giants.
For seven minutes, they appeared to have Aaron Judge. For seven days, they appeared to have Carlos Correa. Both wound up in New York, with Correa pulling a shocking reversal by agreeing with the Mets after his 13-year, $350 million cope with the Giants fell aside over medical considerations.
The wild developments have soured what was anticipated to be an enormous winter for the Giants, who had been intent on filling their celebrity void after falling in need of expectations in 2022.
It’s unclear the place the Giants will go in 2023, however listed below are three optimistic predictions for the brand new 12 months:
1. Logan Webb extension talks decide up this spring
After shedding Correa, the Giants pivoted by agreeing to phrases with outfielder Michael Conforto (two years, $36 million) and left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers (three years, $33 million). Reuniting the Rogers twins restored some healthful vibes within the wake of the Correa fiasco, however there’s one other transfer the Giants may make to attempt to construct up goodwill with their dissatisfied fanbase: Extend Webb.
After Buster Posey joined the Giants’ possession group in September, Webb joked that he had despatched his former teammate a textual content saying, “I know who to talk to now when I hit free agency.”
Webb, 26, is below workforce management for 3 extra seasons, but it surely wouldn’t be a shock if the Giants attempt to lock up their homegrown ace on a long-term extension sooner moderately than later.
The Giants have most well-liked so as to add pitchers on short-term offers below president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, although Webb seemingly falls into a unique class since he’s youthful than most free brokers and has established himself as one of many high starters within the Majors over the previous two seasons. He additionally hails from close by Rocklin, Calif., which may make him extra amenable to sticking round to anchor San Francisco’s rotation for years to return.
2. A Giants hitter produces a 30-homer marketing campaign
The Giants haven’t had a hitter bash greater than 30 residence runs in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. That’s the longest such drought within the Majors, however there’s a superb likelihood it’ll lastly come to an finish now that they’re projected to have Joc Pederson, Mitch Haniger and Conforto hitting within the coronary heart of their order in 2023.
Pederson led the Giants with 23 residence runs this previous season, however he slugged 36 homers for the Dodgers in 2019 and may benefit from receiving extra at-bats at designated hitter. Haniger will even carry some critical right-handed pop after crushing 39 homers for the Mariners in 2021. Conforto is extra of a query mark since he’s coming off proper shoulder surgical procedure and hasn’t appeared in an MLB sport since 2021, however he comes with massive upside, as he hit 33 residence runs for the Mets in 2019.
3. Kyle Harrison earns Rookie of the Year votes
The sport’s finest left-handed pitching prospect, Harrison topped the Minors in strikeout charge (14.8 per 9 innings) and strikeout proportion (39.8) whereas compiling a 2.71 ERA, .196 opponent common and 186 strikeouts in 113 innings between High-A Eugene and Double-A Richmond.
The 21-year-old is anticipated to open the 2023 marketing campaign at Triple-A Sacramento, however the Giants gained’t hesitate to fold him into their rotation combine if he continues to dominate early within the season. Armed with a mid-90s fastball with loads of arm-side run and an influence mid-80s slider, Harrison may have an opportunity to develop into the Giants’ first Rookie of the Year winner since Posey in 2010.
