The San Francisco Giants are reportedly not going to expedite their rebuild just to roll out the red carpet for new manager Tony Vitello. The former Tennessee Volunteers head coach helped bring a College World Series to Rocky Top, and he’ll have to face a similar uphill climb in the Bay.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic, the Giants aren’t likely to make their biggest splash in the trade market. Pavlovic listed several players San Fran wouldn’t pursue, one of them being Trent Grisham, who has re-signed with the New York Yankees via a $22.5 million qualifying offer.
Instead, Pavlovic declared Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos the team’s outfielders of the future.
“The free agent class is top-heavy, and the best player on the market does technically fill the biggest hole in the lineup. Kyle Tucker has posted five consecutive four-WAR seasons and hit free agency at the age of 28, but he's chasing a $400 million contract and might actually get it given the lack of star power available this offseason,” Pavlovic wrote.
“If the Giants are in that race, they have done a good job of hiding it. All of Posey's public comments have signaled a desire to spend most of his available dollars on pitching this offseason.
“Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Harrison Bader and Cedric Mullins are also available, along with a long list of veteran outfielders likely to sign one-year deals, some of whom -- Michael Conforto, Austin Slater, Andrew McCutchen -- already are familiar in the Bay Area.
“The Giants will also scour the trade market, but ultimately their biggest solutions in the outfield might not come from external options. Ramos is set to become the first Giant since Barry Bonds to start in left field on back-to-back opening days and Lee is locked in as the center fielder.”
Zack Minasian isn’t looking to do too much moving and shaking during his second offseason in charge. With the Los Angeles Dodgers dominating the NL West, and the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks making the most earnest attempt to challenge their supremacy, San Francisco is in a position to be patient and opt for internal improvements.