© Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Day is right around the corner, and if the San Francisco Giants hope to turn their fortunes around following last season’s woes, it starts with putting together the best 25-man roster that’s at their disposal.
Now, after their first wave of roster cuts on Monday, the picture of the Giants’ Opening Day roster is becoming clearer. The Giants optioned eight 40-man players to Triple-A Sacramento, including Steven Okert and the highly-successful Pierce Johnson, along with assigning five non-roster players to minor-league camp.
All that’s left are long-shots, surprises, and without-questions awaiting a decision from the Giants regarding who will make the 25-man roster at the start of the year, and here’s how it could take shape.
Rotation (5): Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Ty Blach, Chris Stratton
Of all the positions, the starting rotation might be the most clear-cut.
There was never any doubt that Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, and Jeff Samardzija would, once again, front the rotation – pending a trade or major injury, of course.
While Bumgarner and Cueto have both been successful this spring, Samarzija’s spring line reads 10 runs, 12 hits, and four walks in 7.1 innings pitched over three starts.
However, his numbers can’t be taken at face value.
He’s used spring training to adjust to a new grip on his curveball, and test out a straight change up, which is partially the reason for his swollen numbers.
As for the two back-end spots, prospects Tyler Beede and Andrew Suarez were given multiple chances of breaking the starting core, but all signs are pointing to Ty Blach and Chris Stratton assuming those roles in 2018.
The only question that remains is which order the Giants will utilize Blach and Stratton. The idea of Blach beginning the season as the No. 4 starter has been tossed around, since that would schedule him to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first two starts.
In his career, Blach is 2-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 16 strikeouts against the Dodgers, considerably better numbers than Stratton. For a team hoping to start the season off strong and faced with a loaded month of April, Blach gives the Giants the best chances to compete against the Dodgers early on.
Bullpen (7): Tony Watson, Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Derek Holland, Cory Gearrin, Josh Osich, Hunter Strickland
Most of these are familiar names – Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Cory Gearrin, Josh Osich, Hunter Strickland – and there’s no doubt that Tony Watson will be on the Opening Day 25-man roster, but Derek Holland also has a strong case to earn a spot in the bullpen.
With Blach and Stratton tightening their hold on the bottom two rotation spots, the only other place to put Holland is the bullpen. In 7.2 innings pitched over three games, Holland as totaled nine strikeouts with a 3.52 ERA.
Osich is another pitcher that came into camp with something to prove and after pitching 4.2 scoreless innings over five games, he’s done everything possible to return to good standing with the Giants.
In 2017, Osich struggled to the tune of a 6.23 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched. Osich’s recent struggles came on the coattails of back-to-back spring trainings where his ERA was no better than 6.75. Nonetheless, he appears to have fixed whatever the problem was that plagued him last year.
However, Osich will likely be replaced by Will Smith, who is expected to return to the 25-man roster by May 1 after missing all of last season to undergo Tommy John surgery. At the very least, Osich provides the Giants a reliable left-handed arm in the bullpen to hold them over until Smith is ready to go.
Catchers (2): Buster Posey, Nick Hundley
Almost as certain as Madison Bumgarner starting Opening Day is that Buster Posey will be behind the plate as the Giants’ starting catcher. It’s a position he’ll likely hold the entire season with the dependable Nick Hundley, who is 8-for-18 with two home runs this spring, serving as his backup.
Yet, with Posey’s ankle troubles this spring, Hundley becomes all the more important to the Giants. After tweaking his ankle early on in spring training, Posey has been limited to four games, in which he’s gone 4-for-7 with three doubles and a walk while playing 19 innings behind the plate.
After Posey confessed that his ankle hasn’t felt the same since his infamous home-plate collision with Scott Cousins in 2011, there’s probably more time at catcher awaiting Hundley this season.
First base (1): Brandon Belt
Brandon Belt is a shoo-in to be the starting first baseman on the Giants 25-man roster this year, but it’ll be interesting to see if missing a significant amount of time last season due to a concussion will impact his season.
So far, so good for Belt, who is batting .407 in 30 at-bats this spring with two home runs, four doubles, and a .515 OBP.
In the event that Belt’s concussion symptoms linger or he suffers another injury, that would likely mean more time for Posey at first base with the possibility of the Giants calling up another catcher, such as Hector Sanchez or Trevor Brown, to fill in as backup.
Second base (1): Joe Panik
Not only is Joe Panik’s title as the starting second baseman safe on the 25-man roster, but he might also see himself lead off for the Giants this season.
On the spring, Panik is batting .308 in 26 at-bats. Of those 26 at-bats, 23 have come in the leadoff spot, where Panik is batting .304 with a double, three walks, and one stolen base.
Third base (1): Evan Longoria
After 10 years of manning the hot corner in Tampa Bay, Evan Longoria will be the starting third baseman for the Giants on Opening Day. In six games this spring, Longoria is 4-14 with three doubles and three walks.
Although his time has been limited with inflammation and swelling in his left ankle, Longoria isn’t concerned.
“When I feel ready, I’ll play. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about long term,” Longoria said. “It’s probably a true day-to-day thing.”
Shortstop (1): Brandon Crawford
As has been the case for the last six years, Brandon Crawford’s spot on the 25-man roster is secure as the Giants’ starting shortstop. The renowned defender has spent 33 innings at his position this spring while batting .222 with three walks.
Utility (2): Kelby Tomlinson, Pablo Sandoval
Although Kelby Tomlinson is having a quiet spring, batting only .233 with one triple and 11 strikeouts, serving as a utility player isn’t easy and he’s proven himself to be reliable in that role since debuting with the Giants in 2015.
Tomlinson is capable of playing any position on the infield, with the exception of first base, and is suited best to backup Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik at their respective positions.
The reasoning behind keeping Pablo Sandoval on the 25-man roster is also his ability to play multiple positions on the infield, specifically first and third base. With Belt coming off two years of injury woes and Evan Longoria dealing with a troublesome ankle, Sandoval is equipped to adequately man their positions should either need additional rest during the season.
It also doesn’t hurt that Sandoval is batting .321 with a home run and two doubles this spring.
Outfield (5): Andrew McCutchen, Hunter Pence, Mac Williamson, Austin Jackson, Gregor Blanco
Austin Jackson is expected to start in centerfield on Opening Day and probably the remainder of the opening series in Los Angeles, but it’s not out of the question that Steven Duggar will assume that position sometime this season.
In the meantime, Gregor Blanco gives the Giants an outfielder with plenty of experience manning centerfield at AT&T Park. He’s now 34-years-old, but Blanco is 8-for-19 this spring, and has defied his age by legging out a pair of triples.
Mac Williamson is a cautious predication to make the 25-man roster on Opening Day.
Although he’s put together a phenomenal spring, batting .378 with four home runs and two triples, he had similarly strong numbers last year in Arizona only to bat .235 with only three home runs in 28 games in 2017.
However, what’s different about Williamson is not only the renewed confidence he’s evidently carrying himself with, but he appears to have taken to heart the lessons he learned from Doug Latta, the hitting coach who helped turn Justin Turner’s career around.
Williamson appears to have upped his adaptability at the plate and, thanks in part to Latta’s guidance, revamped his swing.
More notes:
-No Tyler Beede: He needs more time in Triple-A to recover from his groin injury, which played a deterring factor this spring. In 7.1 innings, Beede has a 12.27 ERA, but shone brightest over three innings against the Cleveland Indians on March 3, where he allowed only one run with two strikeouts. Nonetheless, it’s clear he needs more time in the minor leagues before he can reach the pitching staff, even as a reliever.
-Lose Jose Fernandez: As a rule 5 player, Fernandez will have to be offered back to the Rockies and it’s not out of the question that the Rockies would take him back. Fernandez has plenty of promise with a velocity that touches 100 mph, but to keep him around, the Giants will need to keep him in the 25-man roster all season or offer him back to the Rockies. The bullpen is thin as it is and after struggling to the tune of a 27.00 ERA in 3.1 innings pitched, keeping him is too much to ask the Giants.
-Don’t forget about Pierce Johnson: After an incredibly successful spring, it’s not out of the question that Pierce Johnson could see himself with the Giants sometime this season. In five scoreless innings this spring, Johnson struck out four batters and allowed only one hit before becoming one of the players optioned to Triple-A. While that’s a small sample size, Johnson is headed in the right direction.
Keaton Moore is a KNBR.com contributor, follow Keaton on Twitter at @KeatonAMoore