For the first time in seven years, the San Francisco Giants enter consecutive offseasons without a championship ring. Despite making a number of notable free agent singings in 2016, the Giants fell short of their goal, due in large part to a number of aging veterans regressing and bullpen issues that would ultimately lead to their demise.
A handful of players that contributed to those struggles are about to hit the open market this offseason, and it’ll be interesting to see who the Giants elect to bring back, and who’s played their last game for the Orange and Black.
Here’s a breakdown of the notable Giants about to hit free agency:
Angel Pagan
A Giant since 2012, Pagan actually had an average season with the bat (.277/.331/.418) but was overshadowed by a dismal last month (.221/.282/.354), that saw him eventually dropped to sixth in the lineup. Pagan’s .750 OPS in 2016 is .12 points higher than his career average, but he struggled at times in the field and continues to have one of the weakest arms in all of baseball.
If Pagan were 10 years younger, the Giants might consider resigning him, but he’s 34 and has durability issues that have plagued him throughout his career (he missed the final two games of the NLDS with back spasms). Couple that with his average numbers at the plate, and he’s probably a long shot to make the roster in 2017. Look for the Giants to replace him with a big name in free agency.
Prediction: He walks
Gregor Blanco
Blanco is also coming off a down year behind the dish, finishing with the worst batting average of his career, and an unimpressive line of .224/.309/.311. Blanco has been a solid, cheap fourth outfielder for the Giants for five seasons, but lost his spot as a platoon option to the better and younger Gorkys Hernandez during the second half.
Add the fact that the Giants have two other young outfielders in Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker that seem more than ready to take the fourth outfield spot, and Blanco probably joins Pagan as the second outfielder on his way out of town.
Prediction: He walks
Sergio Romo
Though he finished the season on a low note, the 33-year-old Romo actually had his best statistical season since 2013, and was extremely effective as an emergency closer until the last two games of the season. Romo remains a stellar situational reliever, with right-handed hitters mustering just a .234 batting average against him in 2016, and he still has one of the better sliders in the game when he’s rolling. He also didn’t miss a beat after suffering an early season injury to his right forearm that sent him to the 60-day DL, posting a 2.63 ERA after returning.
Romo is a fan favorite who has been a part of all three World Series teams, and the Giants have a track record of bringing back beloved characters even if on paper it doesn’t totally make sense (see: Tim Lincecum). But Romo did enough with his performances this season to earn a spot in the 2017 bullpen, and remains a solid setup option against right-handed heavy lineups.
Prediction: Re-signs
Javier Lopez
Lopez was also a member of all three Giants World Series teams, but had easily his worse season in San Francisco, posting a 4.05 ERA, after eclipsing 3.00 just once since joining the club in 2010. Lopez has made a career as a destroyer against left-handed hitters, but wasn’t nearly as effective this season, though his numbers were skewed by an abysmal first half. Lopez settled down after July 4th, posting a 2.70 ERA for the last three months.
The Giants could go either way on Lopez. On one hand he’s been a lights-out specialist for the better part of five years and is known for being a positive presence in the clubhouse. On the other, he just turned 39 and may be showing signs of regression. The Giants also have two other talented young lefties in in Will Smith, 26, and Steven Okert, 24.
As with Romo, however, Giants management is notorious for taking care of their guys, and Lopez still effective enough to have value in certain situations.
Prediction: Re-signs
Santiago Casilla
The third member of the core four about to hit the open market, Casilla’s struggles in 2016 are well documented. He blew a league leading nine saves before losing his job to Sergio Romo late in the season, and had an awkward moment on May 12 when he showed up Bruce Bochy on the mound, apparently feeling he didn’t deserve to be pulled.
Casilla’s days as a closer for the Giants are obviously done, but the question is can he still be a valuable member of the bullpen in a setup role moving forward. The answer to that will largely rest upon weather or not San Francisco would prefer to have Romo, as bringing back two aging right-handed setup men doesn’t make much sense. In that respect Romo has the edge, both from a production and age standpoint.
Prediction: He walks