Day two of Stewart’s time in the job and today’s focus is the Major League roster. One major change in his switch from Kansas City to San Francisco is the differing overall and potential evaluation method of the two organisations. While the Royals favoured the star system, the Giants use the 20-80 for overall and potential as well as for individual ratings.
Joey Haigh is a familiar face, the 2042 15th round pick by the Royals, has been the starting Catcher for the Giants for the last two years. An elite blocker and framer means that he has added value each of the last two years (1.6 / 2.2 WAR) despite putting up only 79 and 88 wRC+. He will still be on a minimum salary contract in 2052 and so provides a high floor, if limited ceiling, in the short term.
There are two other Catchers on the 40-man roster, a home-grown Scouting Discovery in Luis Llana along with a 2050 Trade Acquisition Alejandro Dilillo. Both players are, like Haigh, glove first catchers. Llana is rated more highly with superior blocking and arm, although Dilillo has the superior framing. They appeared in 57 games between them, both putting up negative WAR. Dilillo is Arbitration Eligible for the first time this offseason, looking for $2.4m while Llana will still be on a league minimum contract.
Llana brings a captaincy personality to the roster but his bat is unplayable at the Major League level, so the most likely outcome appears to be Haigh, backed up by the marginally more playable Dilillo.
There are no players here that are part of the Giants long term future.
The Giants have 14 INF on their 42-man roster, and six of them are limited defensively to 1B. In terms of roster construction that leaves a lot to be desired for a GM that values defensive ability.
Amongst that list are three players over the age of 30 – former Royal Juan Minnelli, 2046 Trade Acquisition Chris Curp, 2049 Independent League purchase Kurt Campbell. Minnelli is due $31.5m in 2052 with a TO for the same amount in 2053 which has a $3.8m buyout attached, while Curp signed a two-year $12.1m extension in May. Campbell, meanwhile, would be on a league minimum contract next year. Each player has one rating above average, Campbell best rating is contact, Curp has some power and Minnelli some gap power. That gap power is the only one that is a plus rating but his now below average speed negates that advantage somewhat. Stewart would love to move on from all three but those long term contract, especially Minnelli’s, are likely to be tough to move on with the mediocre
That leaves three under-30 players but there is little excitement amongst that group except the fact they are all on league minimum salaries. Vince Temple has an above eye but is average at everything else with little scope for growth, Kevin Dobbs adds some above average gap power to that profile while Ignacio Calas has no power or walk drawing ability but has the potential for plus contact although with a current overall 30 grade seems to have been promoted far too early.
The only player listed at 1B who is not limited to that role is a player who played more games than anyone else at 1B this past season, Chris Foley. The 2051 Free Agent Signing can play 1B and 2B and had 500+ IP at both positions, the most of any player at each. Foley signed a 5-year, $52.5m contract last offseason with the last year a PO and profiles as average across the ratings board.
Performance wise last season, Curp was the only player to produce over 1 WAR, indicating the lack of options on the current roster.
In addition, to Foley, there are four further players capable of playing 2B. Joe Nitrini has been with the Giants since being acquired from the Pirates in 2042 and is an elite defender at 2B and SS. The pending Free Agent is very limited with the bat, his gap power and eye the only ratings viewed as even average. He is a captain of the team but a three-year $45m contract is one Stewart would rather not sign. He is QO eligible but, with that $15m annual ask the Giants have concerns that he will accept if offered. Nat Krueger came over from Washington in 2051 and is another captain personality. He has average contact and power, with above average gap power, paired with plus speed, and a below average eye. He performed well in limited time after his acquisition and is arbitration eligible this offseason. Jeff Olson, a 2049 trade acquisition from the Dodgers, has plus gap power, with plus-plus speed, average contact and power but a below average eye. He is another captain personality and will be on a league minimum contract but is fragile. Finally, W. Chesney, other Dodgers trade acquisition from 2049, had a second cup of coffee in the big leagues this year. He is average across the board with potential for some growth in gap power but is yet to show the ability to stick in the big leagues.
Danny Zellefrow was the Giants starting 3B, and managed to hit over 100 OPS+ despite another average set of ratings across the board. The trade acquisition from Tampa Bay is fragile and is entering his arbitration years. Juan Correa was a 2046 International Amateur signing who is now on the 42-man roster but is a fair distance from being Major League ready after a season in A+ where he had a 79 OPS+.
Joel Hudson, the last of the infielders, is the diamond in the Giants rough. The 32nd ranked prospect in baseball, Hudson is an 80-grade SS, which he pares with average contact and plus (potential plus-plus) gap power and plus-plus speed. He is a sparkplug and is the only player Stewart sees as locked in to a starting role in 2052.
Juan Zetino was the Giants starting LF and put up 1.9 WAR with a 113 OPS+. Arbitration eligible for the first time, the elite glove means the 2043 International Amateur is likely to return to the Giants. Eddie Joy, a 2050 Free Agent, started in CF for the Giants and despite plus-plus gap power and plus speed was a below replacement level player in 2051 with an inability to make contact. A 50-grade glove means his bat doesn’t show enough and the Giants would wish for an upgrade this winter. David Balderas, 2048 Trade Acquisition, played RF and produced 2.1 WAR with his average contact and eye to go with plus-plus gap power and above average speed. Another elite glove, Balderas is arbitration eligible for the first time.
Sergio Miranda was the 4th outfielder but is another who struggles to make contact. His plus-plus gap power is complemented by above average speed which helped him record over 1 WAR. He enters his second year of arbitration with the Giants having to make a decision soon.
Wilfred Polo (2045 International Amateur) is the #61 prospect in baseball and made his debut with one appearance after putting up a 130 OPS+ at AA. The Giants would prefer him to start the season in AAA to continue his develop.
Jeff Pohlman (2049 Trade) and Edgar Rosa (2051 Trade) are both below average major leaguers on league minimum salaries who the Giants are unlikely to retain on the 42-man roster with their lack of production or ratings.
Luis Castro (2048 Trade) is on the 42-man roster but hasn’t appeared above A+ yet so has some seasoning needed but could be a second division starter when fully developed.
Position Players Initial Thoughts
Locked In for 2052
C JOEY HAIGH
1B Chris Curp
1B Juan Minnelli
2B Chris Foley
3B Danny Zellefrow
SS Joel Hudson
LF Juan Zetino
RF David Balderas
Options / Trade / DFA
C Alejandro Dilillo
C Luis Llana
1B Kurt Campbell
1B Vince Temple
1B Kevin Dobbs
2B W. Chesney
2B Nate Krueger
2B Jeff Olsen
LF Jeff Pohlman
CF Edgar Rosa
CF Eddie Joy
RF Sergio Miranda
Free Agents
2B Joe Nitrini (QO eligible)
Prospects to develop in Minor Leagues
1B Ignacio Calas
3B Juan Correa
LF Wilfredo Polo
LF Luis Castro
Moving onto the Pitchers and this would likely be classed as the strength of the Giants in 2051. The top of the rotation was strong with 2050 Free Agent Signing, former Royal, Cason Willard putting up 4.3 WAR as he led the league in K/9. However, there are signs his ability is declining with only average stuff and movement and the Giants are committed to another three years at $33.5m before a final year which is a Vesting Option. There are options for the Giants to get off his contract which will be one of the big early decisions for Stewart.
Edgar Castillo was acquired from the Marlins before the start of the season and did well putting up 2.7 WAR behind a 0.7 HR/9 rate. His plus movement but below average stuff and control played well in San Francisco but the 30-year old is looking for a 6-year $24.8m AAV extension that doesn’t interest Stewart. He is, however, QO eligible and the Giants will almost certainly make that offer, hoping it is declined.
Andy Frederick, the 2047 2nd Round pick is the coming ace of this staff. Above average stuff and movement with average control, he still has potential to improve both his stuff and control. A 5.5 WAR season shows his value and the Giants will gladly pick up his first year of arbitration cost of $5.25m.
The Giants 4th starter was their 2046 1st round, 2nd overall pick Chris Ulmer. Ulmer was in his third year in the Major Leagues and had a 141 ERA+ in his 19 GS. However, on July 14 he tore his rotator cuff and this ended his career. A devastating injury for the player and a giant hole punched in the Giants rotation.
Rob Clauss, a 30 stamina RP, started 10 games for the Giants as they mixed and matched. Of the remaining SP classed players on the 42-man, only Juan Peralta has much to offer – the 2045 1st round pick showing average movement and control with stuff that could reach a similar level with his five pitches and high-90s velocity. He has pitched in parts of three seasons in the majors and Stewart is likely to let him start the year in the rotation in 2052 on a league minimum contract.
Juan Medina, Mike Teague, and Jaheem Cushingberry are all RP at best and all should struggle to stay on the roster heading into next season.
Moving onto the bullpen, and the Giants were light on arms in 2051 with only nine additional arms on the 42-man roster. Only three pitchers have the plus stuff that Stewart values in his reliever arms. That group is led by 2047 8th rounder Rickey Martino who is in his second year and has a plus stuff, along with average movement and control. Josh Parker was a 12th round pick in 2046 but has carved out a solid role for himself, with plus stuff and average movement making up for below average control. He is also on a league minimum contract next year. Finally, Alex Shockley was acquired from the Cubs in 2046 and, while is below average in HRA, his plus stuff and average control give him some value. He is entering his arbitration years so the Giants will have to decide how much value.
Sean Falk is the only other RP with an average overall, the former Reliever of the Year recovering from a torn rotator cuff. Another impending Free Agent, Falk is QO but is only looking for $2m a year for three years so the Giants will be letting him hit free agency.
There is little else to note in the reliever ranks with a mix of arbitration eligible and minimum contracts making up a set of players who have no long term future in San Francisco
Locked in for 2052
SP Andy Frederick
SP Juan Peralta
SP Cason Willard
CL Rickey Martino
RP Josh Parker
Options / Trade / DFA
SP Jaheem Cushingberry
RP ROB CLAUSS
RP Jesus Espinoza
RP Juan Medina
RP Lane Mouland
RP Alex Shockley
RP Prince Speech
RP Mike Teague
Free Agents
SP Edgar Castillo (QO)
RP Jake Chouinard
RP Sean Faulk
Overall, the San Francisco Giants roster is a mess. Looking long term, only SP Andy Frederick, SS Joel Hudson, and CL Rickey Martino seem pieces worth building around which is a pretty meagre haul. In addition, they have three 1B players signed to guaranteed money in Juan Minelli, Chris Foley, and Chris Curp. The positive news is that beyond those three only SP Cason Willard is guaranteed money after this 2051 season, so the books are reasonably clear, especially once Minnelli’s contract comes off in 2052.