The Farhan Zaidi Juggernaut?
Several San Francisco Giants beat writers talked about how 2022 would be the year that the Giants would start to compete again.
The main reason behind the four year timeline was because that would be when the majority of the large contracts former general manager Bobby Evans signed would come off the books.
Zaidi joined the Giants with many of their 25 man roster players signed to long term deals.
When Zaidi was hired, the fates of Bruce Bochy, Hunter Pence, Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria were all up in the air.
As it turned out, Bochy, Pence and Bumgarner would not be fired or traded. Instead, they were simply let go. So was Will Smith, Joe Panik and Mac Williamson.
Cueto, Posey, Belt, Crawford and Longoria still remain. All but Longoria could face the same fate as Madison Bumgarner faced when he entered free agency for the first time.
However, among the surprises since Zaidi's arrival is the improvements made by this group. The entire coaching staff has completely changed the way the roster approaches their craft. It has led to a resurgence by the veterans that makes this upcoming off-season much more intriguing.
Laying the Groundwork in 2019
But the groundwork was laid over these last 30 months far beyond simply adjusting the approach by the veterans.
Zaidi mentioned in his first press conference that one of his first goals was to improve the 40 man roster. He also talked about creating depth in the minor league system.
It was led by under the radar signings like Donovan Solano and under the radar trades like Mike Yastrzemski.
The only significant free agent signing made by Zaidi that first off-season was bringing back Derek Holland to a one year contract. Otherwise, it was small signings like Drew Pomeranz and the additions of Solano and Yastrzemski.
Zaidi did go after the biggest free agent on the market in Bryce Harper, but lost out to the Philadelphia Phillies. It's possible this was more a push by the front office than Zaidi's decision, but nonetheless, it did show that large signings were not going to disappear in the future.
Farhan continued to preach that no move was a small move. He added minor league free agents and non roster invitees, and made several small trades as well. Giants fans saw glimpses of the ways that approach could help the Giants when they had an amazing June in 2019 that had a team designed to rebuild suddenly in the playoff race.
When Bochy and the Giants suddenly had a shot at the playoffs, Zaidi decided not to trade pending free agents Bumgarner and Will Smith at the deadline. Despite the Giants falling short, it gave Bochy the best chance to retire on top, gave a living legend like Bumgarner a chance to say goodbye, and it showed the fans that Farhan was willing to fight for wins even in a rebuild.
Despite holding onto Bumgarner and Smith through the season, he let both walk in free agency, providing the Giants with two additional draft picks. This was the kind of long term move that can frustrate a fan base hoping for winning seasons now.
Finding Diamonds in the Rough
Zaidi spent the next off-season adding more pieces. Kevin Gausman was added to replace Bumgarner, which seemed at the time to be almost comical.
From 2013-2019, Gausman posted a 10.6 Wins Above Replacement. Bumgarner, in the same timeframe had a 25.5 WAR. In 191 games and 154 starts, Gausman had pitched a total of 925.2 innings with a 4.30 earned run average and a 47-63 record. Bumgarner, meanwhile, had 1312 innings pitched over 202 starts and posted an 83-62 record with a 3.10 ERA.
But, here is where Farhan was starting to show his skill set. Based off those traditional numbers, the idea of replacing Bumgarner with Gausman, no matter what the money difference was, would seem misguided at best. Gausman was 64th in WAR among starters over that timeframe while Bumgarner was 10th.
However, when you saw him pitch, Gausman was showing some signs he could be much better than his numbers. He was showcasing a devastating pitch in his splitter and the new staff in San Francisco identified him as a potential ace because of it.
It was savvy moves like Solano, Yastrzemski and Gausman that turned a team in the beginning of a rebuild into a team fighting for the playoffs in 2020. Some moves that seemed like a misstep to some, showed the true vision of Zaidi long term.
When the Giants traded with the Cincinnati Reds for Zack Cozart, the thought initially was that we had found a versatile infielder that could help our 25 man roster. Instead, the move had nothing to do with Cozart at all. Included in the trade was former first round pick Will Wilson. The Angels were looking for a team to send Cozart to because his contract was impacting their payroll. Zaidi gladly took on the dead money to add another top prospect to the Giants farm system.
As far as the season went, they fell short, just like in 2019. It was clear, however, that while the potential top prospects were still years away, something was going on in San Francisco.
Zaidi had traded several pitchers at the 2019 deadline, including Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz, Sam Dyson and Ray Black. What was a place of depth for the Giants suddenly seemed barren. Then the Giants added Gausman, Drew Smyly and Trevor Cahill the following off-season, just to let Smyly and Cahill walk as well.
A rotation that could have had Bumgarner, Gausman, Cueto, Smyly and Cahill was looking thin. The Giants did re-sign Gausman to the largest contract Zaidi had handed out yet. A one year, $18 million deal. Gausman and Cueto were now essentially both on one year deals.
Farhan Retooling Once Again
Farhan then spent the remainder of the off-season adding the rest of the rotation. First Anthony DeSclafani, followed by Alex Wood and finally Aaron Sanchez. He also gave his first three year deal to versatile infielder Tommy LaStella. It was only the second multi year deal of the Zaidi era after the two year deal given to Wilmer Flores in 2020.
As we head into the middle of May, every starting pitcher acquisition has looked brilliant from Farhan. Despite injuries to Solano, Yastrzemski and La Stella, the Giants offense has been one of the best in the game. Along with the vet from the Evans era, other small signings like Darin Ruf, Alex Dickerson and trades for LaMonte Wade Jr. and Mike Tauchman have showed that Zaidi will continue to add and build regardless of the standings or the timeline of the top prospects.
The Giants might not be able to hold off the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers and up and coming San Diego Padres, but sitting in first place in May is always a great sign.
What's even more fascinating is the potential at the deadline if the Giants are contenders. Will they be willing to add to the 26 man roster? Will they be willing to move veterans anyway in the right deal? Will they take on a large contract if it meant prospects were included?
Having the flexibility to do all of the above makes the remainder of this season much more interesting.
