Giants Exit Winter Meetings with Limited Progress on Roster

ORLANDO, Fla. — The San Francisco Giants emerged from the MLB Winter Meetings without significant roster changes, having made only one notable transaction. The team acquired catcher Daniel Susac from the Minnesota Twins, a move aimed at strengthening their catching depth. This acquisition marks a modest step as the Giants continue to seek improvements in other key areas.

The Winter Meetings featured several high-profile moves, including Kyle Schwarber re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies and Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. Despite the activity around them, the Giants left Florida largely unchanged, with their roster remaining similar to its state at the beginning of the week.

General Manager Zack Minasian expressed cautious optimism regarding the offseason’s progress. “I don’t know if there was much more we could do as far as conversations, meetings,” he noted on Wednesday. “We feel like some things are heading in the right direction.” The Giants are looking to bolster their pitching staff, having entered the meetings with a clear need for both starters and relievers. Currently, Sam Hentges is their only free-agent signing.

Pitching Needs Remain Unaddressed

The Giants’ starting rotation includes three confirmed spots filled by Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp, leaving two vacancies. While the team boasts several promising young pitchers, including Hayden Birdsong and Carson Whisenhunt, they still require reliable arms capable of delivering consistent performances. The potential willingness to trade top prospect Bryce Eldridge for pitching remains uncertain.

Birdsong, 24, is viewed as a future starter despite experiencing command issues last season, which saw him walk 67 batters over 104.2 innings across both major and minor leagues. “With the stuff that he has, we still see the possibility of a guy that can pitch at the front of the rotation,” said former catcher Buster Posey.

The Giants also face challenges in their bullpen, particularly after the loss of All-Star Randy Rodríguez, who will miss the entire upcoming season following Tommy John surgery. While Ryan Walker has experience as a closer, his performance has been inconsistent. Minasian emphasized that Walker is a key component of their bullpen moving forward.

Exploring Future Options

Although the Giants considered utilizing the Rule 5 Draft to enhance their bullpen, they ultimately decided against selecting any players during their turn. Minasian explained that the team preferred to acquire Susac, viewing it as a more fitting option. “You try to set a pretty high bar where if we’re taking a reliever, this has to be someone we feel like can contribute at the major-league level,” he stated.

The Giants now have a better array of left-handed relief options compared to the previous spring training, featuring four lefty relievers on their 40-man roster. While Minasian expressed increased confidence in their pitching depth, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of pitching performance.

On the position player front, the acquisition of Susac slightly addresses the Giants’ needs, but significant gaps remain, particularly in right field, where they require a strong partner for Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee. Former Giant Mike Yastrzemski recently signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, which could have provided a valuable upgrade.

Second base is another area of consideration, with Casey Schmitt currently filling that role. While not as urgent as pitching or right field, exploring options remains a priority for the Giants.

As the Giants leave Florida, the lack of seismic moves raises questions about their offseason strategy. Minasian remains hopeful, stating, “Some things, still working on… We’ll see where it goes. Right now, it’s still kind of anyone’s guess.” The coming weeks will be crucial for the Giants as they look to solidify their roster and improve their chances for the upcoming season.