I think the jury's out on how strong the Giants will be up the middle. Bailey earned the Gold Glove, and he's very young. His next 6-8 years will be his best. He cut WAY back on his errors from 2023 to 2024, which augurs well. He throws out a very high percentage of runners, which chills other runners who want to take extra bases. His first half hitting was incredible, Posey-like. His second half hitting was the third worst of all position players. Hopefully another year will give him more strength.
Adames led the league in Rtot in 2019 with 19, and in 2022 and 2023 he had a high positive Rtot, 9 and 11. Last year, he was a -8. He's rarely under water and he's been between 3.1 and 4.9 WAR for a full season his entire career. So it was a breakout defensive year to the downside, but a breakout upside year on offense. Adames career Rtot is 29, Brandon Crawford's was 32. Crawford's fielding Rtot was positive until he turned age 30, when he won his late career gold glove (2021) his Rtot was negative, -2. Crawford had incredible range, more than Adames, but Adames was/is a better hitter.
Fitzpatrick at second? Depends on which one shows up. He had first half/second half numbers similar to Bailey. His overall line .280/.334/.497/.831 was excellent. He's a subpar shortstop, but had positive Rtot at 2B, which seems to be a more natural position for him.
Jung Hoo Lee...could have a breakout season. His projection is higher than any Giant except Bailey, Adames and Chapman at .294/.351/.438/.789. His range is above average, his arm isn't the strongest, he didn't have a single error in 80 chances. If he can keep from running into outfield fences, I think he'll be better than solid. McCrea will be an interesting backup, if he learns how to hit.
As for Estrada, he's currently a free agent. I think his problems were in his head. His 2024 was completely unlike his 2021-2023. He wasn't a great fielder early on, but he led the league in range factor in 2023...and then his 2024, he regressed, quite badly. He's a purely natural 2B, he was a disaster at the other positions. I recall reading that he started swinging at balls outside the strike zone...a lot.
Conclusion? I think we're going to be strong up the middle.
Speedy SF Giants center fielder has surprisingly strong Steamer projection for 2025
Adames led the league in Rtot in 2019 with 19, and in 2022 and 2023 he had a high positive Rtot, 9 and 11. Last year, he was a -8. He's rarely under water and he's been between 3.1 and 4.9 WAR for a full season his entire career. So it was a breakout defensive year to the downside, but a breakout upside year on offense. Adames career Rtot is 29, Brandon Crawford's was 32. Crawford's fielding Rtot was positive until he turned age 30, when he won his late career gold glove (2021) his Rtot was negative, -2. Crawford had incredible range, more than Adames, but Adames was/is a better hitter.
Fitzpatrick at second? Depends on which one shows up. He had first half/second half numbers similar to Bailey. His overall line .280/.334/.497/.831 was excellent. He's a subpar shortstop, but had positive Rtot at 2B, which seems to be a more natural position for him.
Jung Hoo Lee...could have a breakout season. His projection is higher than any Giant except Bailey, Adames and Chapman at .294/.351/.438/.789. His range is above average, his arm isn't the strongest, he didn't have a single error in 80 chances. If he can keep from running into outfield fences, I think he'll be better than solid. McCrea will be an interesting backup, if he learns how to hit.
As for Estrada, he's currently a free agent. I think his problems were in his head. His 2024 was completely unlike his 2021-2023. He wasn't a great fielder early on, but he led the league in range factor in 2023...and then his 2024, he regressed, quite badly. He's a purely natural 2B, he was a disaster at the other positions. I recall reading that he started swinging at balls outside the strike zone...a lot.
Conclusion? I think we're going to be strong up the middle.
Speedy SF Giants center fielder has surprisingly strong Steamer projection for 2025
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