The ongoing off-season has a limited pool of pitchers. Will the San Francisco Giants particularly after missing out on other premiere pitchers still looking for an ace? The answer is ambiguous. Here’s why: The San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners made a trade on Friday that shook the Major League arena. This, one can vouch, wasn’t just another deal. 

While two savvy front offices make shrewd decisions, one can’t help but notice what a calculated gamble this was from both sides. The headline? ‘Former Cy Young Winner Robbie Ray, Acquired by the Giants in Exchange for Outfielder Mitch Haniger and Right-Hander Anthony DeSclafani’. Has this trade quenched the thirst of the San Frans? 

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The answer, like most things in baseball, is complicated. On the one hand, there are undeniable benefits. Ray, when healthy, boasts a dominant fastball and slider combo. He strikes out hitters with ease. Once he recovers completely from the Tommy John surgery, he could form a competent one-two punch with Logan Webb, bolstering the Giants’ rotation altogether. Additionally, the trade cost relatively little, with Haniger and DeSclafani coming off seasons marred by injuries. But there’s a catch. 

‘When healthy’ is a huge caveat. Ray won’t pitch until at least July, and there’s uncertainty whether he’ll return to his Cy Young form. The rest of the rotation relies on young pitchers who are yet to shine at the major league level. Veteran Alex Cobb, another offseason acquisition, offers promise but is recovering from hip surgery. This is where it makes sense that San Francisco continues to be on the lookout for other pitchers. 

It’s established that this trade isn’t about immediate impact. It’s a calculated risk with a potential payoff. A classic Farhan Zaidi move indeed, but it leaves fans asking for more. There are gaps. The lack of roster continuity (on offense), remains a continual concern. Is it possible that the Giants pony up for the established free agent, Shota Imanaga? Or will they rely on internal options?

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With the free-agent market crawling, the Japanese pitching phenom’s looming $100 million+ deadline next week adds urgency to the Giants’ decision. While his talent is undeniable, Giants’ president Zaidi’s recent comments implied that they might hesitate at the hefty price tag. His words were, “We have had conversations with his representation and there’s still a few things we’re looking at on that side. Wouldn’t want to get more specific than that.”

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But according to Jim Bowden, one of the Shota Imanaga finalists is the Giants. Quite conflicting, isn’t it? Well, to simplify, these are the two possibilities: San Francisco does not pursue any other ace or goes all in acquiring the Yokohama DeNA BayStars pitcher. Maybe, one must wait till 11th of January to find out. Until then, the situation hangs in the balance.