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San Francisco Giants: 5 Big Questions Heading into the Offseason

By Sean Bialaszek

Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants senior vice president and general manager Bobby Evans announces the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants senior vice president and general manager Bobby Evans announces the signing of pitcher Johnny Cueto at a press conference at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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San Francisco Giants
Oct 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ty Blac (50) reacts after Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (not pictured) grounded into a double play to end the thirteenth inning during game three of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

2: Who Opens the Year as the Fifth Starter?

The top four in the Giants’ rotation is set, and looks like one of the best groups in baseball. Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto have spots one and two locked down, while Matt Moore and Jeff Samardzija combine for a very solid three and four. The fifth spot is the question.

Matt Cain is entering the last year of his contract before the Giants can buy him out, and is slated to earn a hefty $21 million in 2017. The Giants will want to put that money to good use, and past experience says they’ll give Cain the first crack at that fifth spot.

Cain did not pitch well last season, posting a 5.64 ERA in 21 games (17 starts) while allowing 1.6 home runs per nine innings. If Cain can’t get those numbers under control for the first time in a few years, there are more pitchers breathing down his neck for the job.

Ty Blach was a September call-up, mostly as a reward for a very strong season at Triple-A, but he turned into a big bright spot in what was mostly a bad month. He made four appearances, including two starts, and allowed just two runs in 17 innings with a 0.765 WHIP. His biggest moment came in game 161, when he shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers over eight innings and outdueled Clayton Kershaw. He was also the winning pitcher in the Giants’ lone NLDS win, pitching two shutout innings against the Cubs.

Blach presents the most clear threat to Cain, but other pitchers are waiting for a shot as well. Albert Suarez was very solid after signing as a minor league free agent. Chris Heston is still in the system after a stellar 2015 season, but missed a lot of 2016 because of injury. Top prospect Tyler Beede has yet to reach Triple-A, but was mostly extremely good with the Flying Squirrels last season. And who knows what kind of minor league signings the Giants will make this offseason.

Do the Giants continue to put their trust in Cain, hoping for a turnaround? Do they go against the grain and put their eggs in the Blach basket? Can someone else dazzle and take the job?

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