The playoffs are going on without the Giants, meaning their offseason has essentially begun.
Gabe Kapler, the 2021 National League Manager of the Year, joined Tolbert & Copes to chat about San Francisco’s offseason priorities, the potential impact of the infield shift ban, and where things went wrong for the 81-81 Giants.
The Giants have plenty of holes to fill in their roster. Big-name free agents, such as Aaron Judge, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson, could help in more ways than one. If the Giants go after them, Kapler wants to be a part of those conversations.
“The recruiting process is one where I want to be instrumental,” Kapler said. “It doesn’t mean I have to be a central figure, but I would like to be able to talk to the player. Usually, especially if we’re pursuing a bigger free agent player, I might be able to get on the phone with that player, explain what we’re trying to accomplish from a clubhouse perspective, and how that player might fit into our mix.”
For example, Kapler said his conversation with Joc Pederson, a 2021 NL All-Star, was a “truth-telling” discussion. He laid out what the team would expect from Pederson if he decided to sign with the Giants.
By hitting almost exclusively against right-handed pitchers, Pederson put together his best season since 2019.
“We said this is the role you’re going to play on our team if you come to San Francisco,” Kapler said. “Are you comfortable with that? And then just kind of laying it out, not bullshitting the player, not saying there’s going to be a larger role for them than there’s likely to be, but always holding out the possibility that they can earn a larger role. It’s these conversations that I believe I have the ability to be influential in, and I look forward to those.”
That type of conversation wouldn’t be necessary for a player like Judge, whose role would be defined and universal: play every day and anchor a lineup from the middle of the order.
The Giants may be desperate for finding players with a more consistent, steady role. There were hardly any players San Francisco could expect in the lineup on any given day in 2022; in 2021, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt were regulars.
“I’ll say this: every team wants everyday, excellent Major League baseball players,” Kapler said. “It’s a desire, you ask any manager, GM, president, anyone up and down the organization, they’re going to say those players are difficult to come by. Through development, they’re difficult to come by through acquisition, but they’re critically important to the well-being and success of a team. The answer to the question is of course. I think it’s great to have those.”
Listen to the full interview below. You can listen to every KNBR interview on our podcast page at knbr.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Catch Tolbert & Copes weekdays from 2 – 6 p.m. on KNBR 104.5 / 680 and streaming live on KNBR.com.