SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly a decade ago, Giants officials went to bed one December night believing they were on the verge of a franchise-altering signing. They thought they had secured a right-handed ace to pair with their homegrown star atop the rotation. However, before they could celebrate, the Arizona Diamondbacks swooped in and signed Zack Greinke to a $206.5 million deal, stunning the Giants.
The pursuit of Corbin Burnes has drawn parallels to that situation, though it wasn’t identical. Like Greinke, Burnes is a former Cy Young Award winner who expressed interest in joining the Giants to bolster their rotation. In 2015, Greinke was expected to choose between the Giants and Dodgers. Similarly, Burnes was reportedly deciding between the Giants and Blue Jays. Back then, Madison Bumgarner waited for support in the rotation. Today, it’s Logan Webb.
The Giants quickly pivoted after losing Greinke, signing Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to long-term deals. Both provided immediate value, filling the void left by Greinke. In Burnes’ case, however, the alternatives aren’t as obvious, and his negotiations with the Giants never progressed as far.
By late December, as Burnes searched for the right fit, the starting pitching market had thinned considerably. Sean Manaea re-signed with the Mets, and Walker Buehler took a short-term deal with the Red Sox. Other notable arms like Blake Snell, Max Fried, Nathan Eovaldi, and Yusei Kikuchi had already signed elsewhere. The most experienced veteran left is Jack Flaherty, though his recent inconsistency raises concerns.
The most intriguing option is Japanese star Roki Sasaki. If the Giants were to land him, it would mitigate the sting of missing out on Burnes and others. While the Giants have made a serious effort to sign Sasaki, they suspect he’s leaning toward Los Angeles.
An alternative strategy would be allocating resources to upgrade the lineup. However, the fits aren’t as seamless. Pete Alonso is the biggest name available and would provide much-needed power, but with top prospect Bryce Eldridge expected to debut in 2025, committing a massive contract to Alonso could complicate the team’s future. Alonso’s potential role as a full-time DH and the draft picks required to sign him make the move less appealing.
Players like Anthony Santander or Jurickson Profar offer more flexibility, with the ability to play the outfield. This would align better with the Giants’ current roster, especially given Mike Yastrzemski’s final year of team control. Alex Bregman, the top remaining position player, is another option, though not a perfect one. While Bregman could theoretically move to second base, signing him alongside Matt Chapman and Willy Adames could tie up significant resources and limit financial flexibility.
One creative solution could be revisiting Ha-Seong Kim, allowing him to shift to second base while the team maintains a defense-first approach. However, this would push Tyler Fitzgerald, a promising young player, back into a utility role—something the Giants have avoided after his success playing shortstop every day.
Ultimately, Burnes would have been the ideal addition, addressing both the team’s need for a rotation anchor and their desire for star power. Giants officials, including Buster Posey, have emphasized the importance of adding pitching depth to support a young core, but Burnes isn’t the only veteran they’ve missed this offseason.
To fill the gap, the Giants could consider veterans like Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander on one-year deals. Both pitchers are in their forties but remain effective and could bring entertainment value to Oracle Park. Short-term deals might align better with the team’s strategy, allowing flexibility for trades if contention doesn’t materialize.
While the offseason has become more challenging, options remain. Creativity will be key as the Giants navigate the market. Losing Burnes is a blow, but as history has shown, surprises and pivots can sometimes lead to success.
Be the first to comment