The San Francisco Giants have made a handful of notable roster additions this winter. But with a slow-moving free-agent market, enticing opportunities are still available. The club reportedly has its eyes on starting pitcher Blake Snell and third baseman Matt Chapman.
According to a February 27 report from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants could make at least one more big splash before Opening Day. A source told Slusser there's roughly a 50-50 chance San Francisco reels in at least one of Snell or Chapman.
The Giants have been connected to both free agents at various points throughout the offseason. Once reports surfaced that Snell was searching for a nine-year, $270 million deal, though, they changed course and upgraded their rotation in other ways. It included signing Jordan Hicks to a four-year, $44 million deal, along with trading for former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
Manager Bob Melvin's rotation still has plenty of questions, though. Hicks has spent the majority of his MLB career in the bullpen and Ray won't be ready until at least the summer as he finishes his Tommy John surgery rehab. Adding Snell to the top with fellow ace Logan Webb would be a formidable one-two punch. And now that we're on the verge of March, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi could get Snell at a huge discount.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post said the southpaw is open to a short-term deal with opt-outs available, similar to what outfielder Cody Bellinger just agreed to with the Chicago Cubs. He signed a three-year, $80 million deal with opt-outs after the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
As for Chapman, the Giants have been perceived as a more natural fit. Signing him would make having an unknown at shortstop in Marco Luciano a little easier to swallow. Chapman is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner with the ability to hit 20-plus home runs each year. He's also durable, playing in at least 140 games five times since 2018. Landing by the Bay would be a familiar feeling for the former Oakland A's star, and he'd be reunited with his former manager.
With Opening Day now less than a month away, both of these Scott Boras clients are likely amenable to a short-term deal with a high annual salary and opt-outs to end a prolonged stay on the open market.
