The San Francisco Giants have a reputation for surprise moves, often flying under the radar until a big splash. This offseason, though, their savvy strategy is becoming impossible to ignore. Instead of chasing headline-grabbing mega-contracts, they’ve zeroed in on specific needs, assembling a roster that might just defy expectations—take the last-minute addition of Matt Chapman, for example.

The moves haven’t been as flashy as one would expect—no superstars with massive price tags. Chapman himself came in for a mere $54 million contract for three years. Yet, there’s a tangible sense of cohesion this time around. They are not just making signings; they’re building a team. Could this be a hint that those under-the-radar moves are all the Giants need to climb back into contention? 

Fixing the Glaring Issues

Last season, the Los Gigantes’ attempt to fix their offensive woes backfired. While they did add talent on paper, the results on the field were a major disappointment. The team ranked near the bottom of the league in runs scored and power despite spending significant money. On the other hand, their pitching—usually the team’s strength—actually performed respectably, considering the total lack of support their hitters provided. This offseason, President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, has directly addressed the issues that held them back.

Solution to the Abysmal Defense: The Giants were one of MLB’s worst defensive teams in 2023. Their porous defense turned routine ground balls into errors, putting a tremendous strain on their pitching staff. Moves for Chapman, Jung-Hoo Lee, and potentially Nick Ahmed have turned the infield into a potential defensive powerhouse, which is ideal for their ground-ball-heavy rotation.

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What About Their Lack of Power? Jorge Soler’s arrival brings the promise of tape-measure home runs, the missing ingredient Giants fans were clamoring for. Plus, a now-healthy Chapman could return to a much better productive form.

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Renewed Athleticism and Energy: Lee’s speed and dynamic presence, plus Soler’s charisma, inject much-needed energy into a team that often appeared flat last season. These intangibles sometimes get overlooked, but they can definitely galvanize a roster while elevating the team’s performance.

Answering the Starting Pitching Depth Questions: The injuries to Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray exposed a weakness in the players, prompting a savvy and budget-friendly trade-in for the latter while extending the former for this year. While not the staff ace, Ray’s a solid innings-eater. And the daring gamble on Jordan Hicks, as he converts to a starter, is the type of high-risk, high-reward strategy Farhan Zaidi enjoys. However, the recent signing of Matt Chapman is what fans are calling a game-changer for the Giants. Why is this seen as a significant coup?

The Matt Chapman Factor

Long-time skipper Bob Melvin knows what he’s getting with Chapman—an elite defender and a middle-of-the-order threat whose best years may be ahead of him with a finger injury now behind him. This familiarity likely played a strong role in convincing him to look past bigger contracts and join a team on the upswing. Then there is the President of Baseball Operations’ savviness.

Landing the slugger on a team-friendly deal without a decade-long commitment illustrates Farhan Zaidi’s patience and willingness to adjust strategy when needed. It’s a win-win: Matt Chapman has the potential to revitalize his career, and the Giants get a major upgrade without breaking the bank long-term—with the added factor of an Oracle Park Boost.

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Chapman’s tendency to spray the ball might play surprisingly well in San Francisco’s stadium, where the conditions are more balanced than many perceive. He is the perfect piece to solidify an improved infield defense and slot into a more potent batting order. Suddenly, the Giants look like a cohesive unit instead of a collection of parts.

Beyond the Obvious: The Team-Building Aspect

Despite these major improvements, critics of Zaidi have seldom failed to point out the constant roster churn as liable for disrupting the team chemistry. This offseason, however, feels different. There’s a focus on stability, with Lee receiving a multi-year contract, something the Giants hesitated on previously. On the other hand, Matt Chapman’s opt-outs protect both the player and the team.

Chapman’s contract with the Giants features a unique structure. It includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $16 million salary for 2024. He has player options with buyouts for 2025 ($17M/$2M) and 2026 ($18M/$3M), and a mutual option with a buyout for 2027 ($20M/$1M). This structure guarantees him $54 million over three years, with the potential to earn up to $73 million over four.

These calculated moves show respect for the players as well as an understanding of the modern free-agent landscape. This sort of approach might be a factor in attracting future free agents who value both flexibility and the feeling that their contributions will be respected by the organization. Still, the question of being able to compete against billion-dollar teams looms in the air.

The Elephant in the Room

Let’s be realistic: dethroning league juggernauts like the Los Angeles Dodgers seems unlikely in the short term. The gap in talent is still significant. However, the Giants aren’t building to just match the Dodgers—they’re building to snag a playoff spot.

Right now, market reports are calling them an “in the mix” team, which is a remarkable improvement from their dire 2023 state. The moves made this offseason make them a more formidable opponent in an increasingly interesting NL West race and should renew hope for fans in San Francisco. But don’t expect the Giants to splash the headlines with mega-signings mid-season.

That’s simply not how they operate. Yet, under the radar, they’ve addressed critical needs and have a real pathway to being tough in 2024. With a bit of luck (and avoiding the injury bug that plagued them last season), they might even give their fans those thrilling playoff moments once again. Could this be a sign of a resurgent era? We’ll have to wait and see, but for a fanbase desperate for something to cheer for, this is definitely turning out to be the most encouraging offseason the San Francisco Giants have had in years.

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