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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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Jul 20, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; San Francisco Giants right fielder Mac Williamso (51) hits a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

3: Who’s Going to Play Left Field This Time Around?

This question gets recycled every offseason, and the answer is almost always someone different. Last year, it was Angel Pagan that held the helm for most of the season, but with Pagan hitting free agency, the position is open again.

In the postseason press conference, Giants’ brass seemed to point to in-house options as their first choice. Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker would be those guys.

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Neither Williamson nor Parker has gotten a real chance to play everyday, but they have proven they can hit the ball hard. Parker hit six home runs in a 21-game stretch in September 2015, and Williamson was one of the Giants’ biggest offensive performers after the All-Star break last season.

If the Giants do go in this direction, can the young guys handle it? And will they go to a platoon, or is one man destined to hold the job? If not, there are some outside options, but not a whole lot.

The big fish on the market is Yoenis Cespedes, who just opted out of the last two years of his deal with the New York Mets. Cespedes would definitely bring the power, but it would have to come at a premium price. Cespedes would have made $47.5 million in the last two years of that contract, so any team that wants his services will have to top that. With the Giants need for the pitching seeming to be a bit more pressing, it looks like will be difficult to add Cespedes.

Besides the big fish, there are a few smaller fish. Dexter Fowler declined his option with the Chicago Cubs, but will the Giants spend money on another high contact, low power hitter? Jose Bautista is also a free agent, but would he want to leave all the hitter’s heavens in the AL East for the NL West? What about a possible utility guy like Ian Desmond? How about Josh Reddick? Austin Jackson? Maybe even a reunion with Pagan?

Looking at all those available options, Desmond seems like the most likely option. But the Giants have gone with their own guys in the past, and it seems as if they will do it again in left field.

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