Examining Giants' position battles after first spring cuts
The first round of cuts is not nearly as dramatic as they make it look in the movies, and the 25 Giants who were sent out Monday morning aren't even technically going anywhere.The Giants optioned eight players and reassigned 17 others, but there's no minor league camp until April 1, so they'll stay at Scottsdale Stadium to continue training for the season.The cuts did, however, get the Giants closer to setting their Opening Day 26. With two weeks left in Scottsdale and 17 days until their opener in Seattle, they have 49 players in camp (two, Tyler Beede and John Brebbia are rehabbing from Tommy John). There wasn't much drama on the horizon when the team reported to camp last month, but some things have subtly changed.Here's an updated look at where the battles stand for the Opening Day roster, and a few names to know as we get closer to decision time:
Most of the attention this spring has been paid to an infielder who won't see the big leagues in 2021. Marco Luciano was in camp at Scottsdale Stadium for the first time, although his time in games gave a reminder that the 19-year-old has some work to do. Luciano went 1-for-16 with 11 strikeouts.
The big league group seemed set when the Giants arrived in Scottsdale, with the caveat that Brandon Belt was a bit behind as he recovered from heel surgery. Well, Belt is even further behind now, but not because of the heel. He came down with mono in February and missed the first weeks of camp, and he wasn't even seen in a team workout until taking BP late last week.
Belt said he finally feels pretty close to normal.
"It was kind of a long ordeal and it obviously wasn't that fun but right now I feel like I'm getting back on track," he said over the weekend.
The Giants have just 14 spring games left and players generally like 40-50 total at-bats, but Belt missed basically all of summer camp last July and responded with his best big league season. If the Giants can't get him up to speed by April 1, they have a ready-made fill-in. Jason Vosler is on the 40-man roster and has a team-high 10 hits this spring. He plays the corners, and the Giants also have Tommy La Stella, Wilmer Flores and Darin Ruf as first base options early in the year.
La Stella, Flores, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, Evan Longoria, Donovan Solano and Curt Casali are still the locks here.
Heliot Ramos has been the standout, with nine hits in 21 at-bats and three homers. But he's not making the Opening Day roster, and he could even start the season back in Double-A for a few weeks, because he has very little experience even at that level. The big league conversation likely hasn't changed over the last month.
The Giants wanted to take a long look at LaMonte Wade Jr. this spring, and he's been solid, but it doesn't appear he's done anything to break up the previous five. Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, Mauricio Dubon, Austin Slater and Ruf are all healthy, and with the Mariners likely to go heavy on left-handed pitching in that first series, there's really no reason to consider any permutation that doesn't include Slater (who has an option remaining) and Ruf (who does not have a fully guaranteed contract).
Wade and Steven Duggar remain in camp but both have options. Jaylin Davis was optioned out Monday morning after another stretch in which he struck out too often.
This is where it starts to get interesting.
In theory, the Giants set their starting five when they signed Aaron Sanchez. He hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game yet but threw three simulated innings on Sunday and was sitting 92-94 mph during that session.
Manager Gabe Kapler said the next step is a Cactus League appearance.
"I've been ready for a while," said Sanchez, who is itching to return after a season missed because of shoulder rehab.
As they get Sanchez back, the Giants are without Alex Wood, who has a stiff back, something he also dealt with in 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds when he made just seven starts. That's not what you want to hear two weeks from the end of camp, but the Giants have a very capable sixth option if they need him as Logan Webb has pitched six innings this spring and allowed just two hits with 10 strikeouts.
"I don't want to overdo it here, but he's been really impressive in this camp," Kapler said over the weekend. "He's been really impressive because he's doing exactly what we had hoped and kind of prompted him to do, which is to use his secondary pitches with the same level of confidence that he uses his fastball."
The Giants may not even need Webb, though. They have three off days in the season's first 15 days, which could come into play. When Sanchez returns they'll feel good about their first four, with Kevin Gausman having a very strong spring, Johnny Cueto looking more like his old self, and Anthony DeSclafani right on track.
Good luck sorting this one out by April 1. Before they made cuts Monday, the Giants had 41 pitchers in big league camp, including 21 non-roster invitees, many of whom were fighting for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.
Farhan Zaidi said last week that the Giants will prioritize keeping roster depth when they set the initial roster, which means guys like Caleb Baragar and Sam Selman are probably out of luck. Both threw well last season, but they have options and can be stashed for a bit while the Giants keep others from the waiver wire or opting out.
The locks here are Jake McGee (the likely closer), Matt Wisler, Jarlin Garcia and Jose Alvarez. Tyler Rogers can technically be optioned, but write his name in pen, too, because Kapler needs reliable right-handers, and two who appeared likely a month ago are now probably on the outside.
Reyes Moronta has pitched in just one Cactus League game and his velocity was down four or five ticks, which is pretty concerning. Rule 5 pick Dedniel Nuñez was pitching his way into an extended tryout before elbow inflammation popped up last week. That seems likely to land him on the IL to start the year.
Assuming the Giants start with eight relievers to account for all the innings concerns the front office has, you can come up with endless ways to get to those final three spots. There are still 15 non-roster pitchers in camp, including Shun Yamaguchi, Nick Tropeano, Silvino Bracho, Dominic Leone and Jimmie Sherfy. The front office is going to prioritize keeping inventory at the end of camp, knowing that the bullpen could look different by the time the team leaves Seattle after three games.
