Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants have asked fans to be patient. In today’s lexicon, to trust the process. Teams build and build and build and stack up savvy moves until they have built a foundation that is topped off by moves that open eyes and move needles.
They have asked fans to be patient, citing the team Farhan Zaidi came from as proof there is a plan in place. That team in Los Angeles does not need to wait any longer.
“I can’t wait, Dodger fans,” Trevor Bauer said as the Cy Young winner announced his destination.
Despite the fact it was known the right-hander was down to two teams, it still came as a shock that the World Series champs had won him, too. The deal that kept him from the Mets on Friday reportedly includes $102 million over three seasons, though with opt-outs after Years One and Two. He’ll make $40 million this season. If he opts in, $45 million next season.
A day prior, the Giants announced Tommy La Stella’s backloaded deal would pay him $2 million this season. They dropped out of the Jackie Bradley Jr. sweepstakes when they traded for Minnesota’s LaMonte Wade Jr., who has played 42 career games. The guess here is the Dodgers signing Bauer is not a response to that trade.
The building for the Giants will continue with a farm system that is well-regarded but far off, most of its top prospects at the bottom of the system. Even if they did ante up this offseason and splashed their way to, say, Marcell Ozuna and Bauer, the Giants would be looking up at the mansions in Los Angeles and San Diego and likely unable to compete. The playoffs are not expanding — at least for right now — and the immediate future was not going to be kind to the Giants. But this is downright mean.
The Dodgers’ projected rotation, with Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin in the wings:
Clayton Kershaw
Trevor Bauer
Walker Buehler
David Price
Julio Urias
The Padres’ projected rotation, with Mackenzie Gore and Adrian Morejon in the wings:
Blake Snell
Yu Darvish
Dinelson Lamet
Chris Paddack
Joe Musgrove
The Giants, meanwhile, have improved at the margins. They are better on paper than they were last season, which featured 60 relevant games and finished a win shy of the postseason. Their revamped rotation would be considered high risk, high reward if the bar for “high” had not been chucked to the ceiling by their division rivals. They were short a lefty infield bat last season, which La Stella solves, and had issues from the right side in their bullpen, which Matt Wisler and Reyes Moronta should address.
The catcher position has been greatly upgraded just by Buster Posey returning. Curt Casali, behind him, was a nice signing and one who was up to recruit his former Reds buddy if asked.
“He’s always ahead of the curve. He is the most analytical pitcher I’ve ever caught,” Casali said of Bauer last month. “He understands exactly how his body works. He’s extremely smart, he’s extremely well-prepared when he gets on the mound. He is the one who’s leading the pregame meetings every time. He knows exactly what the hitters are, what their capabilities are. He knows exactly how to attack them.”
Bauer against anyone last season, which finished with a 1.73 ERA, was not a fair fight. That will be the case in the NL West this season.
The Giants are remaining patient and hoping to coordinate the large moves when their prospects are ready to break through. Until then, they are not in the same weight class. For the Giants and their fans, it’s less about putting on more weight and more about just plain waiting.