[Mick]

Competition for Tomlinson.

[quote author=Mick link=topic=18541.msg222905#msg222905 date=1517623053]
Giants signed IF Andres Blanco (no relation to Gregor).  Career .256 hitter, three years ago, had career year and hit .292 for Philadelphia.  Very good fielder, can play any IF or OF role, range has fallen.  Last guy off the bench, I'm guessing.

[/quote]

Exactly right.

I saw a projection yesterday that had the Nationals, Dodgers and Cubs winning their respective divisions next year (naturally) and the next three projected seasons were Diamondbacks (87 wins), Cardinals (85 wins) and Giants (84 wins), though you can't forget the Brewers or Rockies.  Four of the last five years, an 87 or 88 win team made the playoffs.  I assume that's what the Giants are shooting for. 

The Giants current issue is that they have no left handed relief.  Will Smith, coming back from Tommy John surgery, is the sole proven left handed reliever, unless you count Osich (6.23 ERA) and Okert (5.67 ERA), which I don't.  Osich had a great year in 2015, Okert had a great one in 2016.  Right now, Brett Bochy's career ERA is better than both of theirs, and he's doing financial planning.  They could go after former Dodger Tony Watson, who had a terrific year last year in a minor role, and was an all star in 2014 for the Pirates.

Giant minor league pitching options include:

Roberto Gomez  (40-man), 1.388 WHIP in AAA, but 1.875 WHIP in SF...
Reyes Moronta (40-man), struck out the world in a 2.95 AAA season.  Gave up two runs in seven innings, striking out 11 for SF last year.  Just turned 25.  Could be...
Julian Fernandez, throws 102, but hasn't progressed past A ball in four years. Got some control just last year.
Pierce Johnson, who spent last year striking out Triple-A, former Cub, hugely on the rise.
Joan Gregorio (6'7", 180 pounds), 3.04 ERA in hit-happy AAA, not bad
Derek Law, who should be good again, dammit.

The Giants are still about $2.5 million under the cap, which they have maintained they will remain.  Don't forget, next year's free agent bounty is significant (Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon, Drew Pomeranz, Elvis Andrus, Brian Dozier).

[Mick]

Competition for Tomlinson.

[quote author=Mick link=topic=18541.msg222905#msg222905 date=1517623053]
Giants signed IF Andres Blanco (no relation to Gregor).  Career .256 hitter, three years ago, had career year and hit .292 for Philadelphia.  Very good fielder, can play any IF or OF role, range has fallen.  Last guy off the bench, I'm guessing.

[/quote]

Exactly right.

I saw a projection yesterday that had the Nationals, Dodgers and Cubs winning their respective divisions next year (naturally) and the next three projected seasons were Diamondbacks (87 wins), Cardinals (85 wins) and Giants (84 wins), though you can't forget the Brewers or Rockies.  Four of the last five years, an 87 or 88 win team made the playoffs.  I assume that's what the Giants are shooting for. 

The Giants current issue is that they have no left handed relief.  Will Smith, coming back from Tommy John surgery, is the sole proven left handed reliever, unless you count Osich (6.23 ERA) and Okert (5.67 ERA), which I don't.  Osich had a great year in 2015, Okert had a great one in 2016.  Right now, Brett Bochy's career ERA is better than both of theirs, and he's doing financial planning.  They could go after former Dodger Tony Watson, who had a terrific year last year in a minor role, and was an all star in 2014 for the Pirates.

Giant minor league pitching options include:

Roberto Gomez  (40-man), 1.388 WHIP in AAA, but 1.875 WHIP in SF...
Reyes Moronta (40-man), struck out the world in a 2.95 AAA season.  Gave up two runs in seven innings, striking out 11 for SF last year.  Just turned 25.  Could be...
Julian Fernandez, throws 102, but hasn't progressed past A ball in four years. Got some control just last year.
Pierce Johnson, who spent last year striking out Triple-A, former Cub, hugely on the rise.
Joan Gregorio (6'7", 180 pounds), 3.04 ERA in hit-happy AAA, not bad
Derek Law, who should be good again, dammit.

The Giants are still about $2.5 million under the cap, which they have maintained they will remain.  Don't forget, next year's free agent bounty is significant (Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Clayton Kershaw, Josh Donaldson, Charlie Blackmon, Drew Pomeranz, Elvis Andrus, Brian Dozier).