Podcast appearances and mentions of david villar

On “Giants Talk,” hosts Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic recap San Francisco's series win in Washington and break down the Giants' struggling offense. Plus, a preview of the Giants' upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers.--(2:30) - Recapping San Francisco's series win in Washington(6:00) - Breaking down Kyle Harrison's outing vs Nationals(11:22) - Robbie Ray's impressive season(12:22) - San Francisco's struggling offense(22:00) - David Villar leaves Giants(26:00) - Giants minor league system overview(40:00) - Giants at Tigers preview 

Well, that sucked. The brothers gamely break down the Angels series including the resurgence of the starting rotation, the return of David Villar, and Ryan Walker's first blown save. They then take a deep breath and look at the big picture by breaking down the the strengths, weaknesses and unknowns of the 2025 Giants.Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listenSpeaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Fruit Punch to the Nuts while Matthew is drinking a Bitter End (aka Limelight). Recipes below.Fruit Punch to the Nuts1 part Cognac1/2 part Banana Liqueur1/2 part Amaretto2 parts Pineapple Juice1/2 part Lime JuiceGinger ale for splashingCombine cognac, banana liqueur, Amaretto, pineapple juice and lime juice in a container and stir aggressively. Chill until cold. Serve over ice and provide ginger ale for an optional splash on top.Bitter End (aka Limelight)2 oz Bourbon1/2 oz Lime Juice3/4 oz Simple Syrup3/4 oz Pineapple Juice3 Dashes Orange Bitters1 oz CampariPinch of Ground Cinnamon for GarnishAdd all ingredients but the Campari and cinnamon to a cocktail shaker with ice. Meanwhile, prepare a rocks glass by pouring in the Campari and then adding ice. Next, shake the cocktail shaker for 10-12 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass by pouring it over a bar spoon to float it on top. Add pinch of Cinnamon. Enjoy.#doitforginny

Bob Melvin joins "Giants Talk" to discuss the ways San Francisco can compete with the powerhouses in their division, how ace Logan Webb has grown as a leader and why Willy Adames is such a great roster fit.:45 – Landon Roupp named final starter5:00 – What does this mean for Hayden Birdsong's development?8:00 – Spencer Bivens makes the bullpen10:00 – Other opening day moves12:15 – David Villar designated for assignment16:30 – Looking ahead to the Giants series vs. Reds22:00 - Bob Melvin Interview

David Villar joins Bill Laskey on SportsPhone KNBR to discuss hitting his 1st HR with the Giants this season and to share his thoughts on his great defense at 1B.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giants infielder, David Villar joins Extra Innings with Bill Laskey to discuss his offseason & serving as a mentor for the young players in the Giants organization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corbin Burnes being traded from the Brewers to the Orioles has implications for the San Francisco Giants. Milwaukee has signaled its intent to re-tool, trading away a Cy Young-caliber pitcher because he was entering the last year of his contract. Enter the SF Giants, who could use another Brewers player on an expiring deal: shortstop Willy Adames.There are numerous reasons why Adames makes sense for the Giants. First of all, going into the season with just Marco Luciano penciled in as their starting shortstop is too risky. Adames is a plus-plus defender, is 28 years old, and is an above-average hitter. Acquiring him would be a big swing for the Giants, and it would allow them to move Luciano into a competition for the third base position, which currently consists of J.D. Davis, Casey Schmitt, Wilmer Flores, and perhaps David Villar. Davis is the frontrunner to play there, except it would make more sense for him to play DH given the current roster construction, especially if they acquired someone on the left side of the infield.So the big question is: what would it take to acquire Adames? The cost for Burnes wasn't that high, simply because he is a short-term rental. And as good as Adames is, he has less value than Burnes. So the SF Giants would probably have to give up a mid Top-100 prospect type (Carson Whisenhunt?) and perhaps a bit more. Arms like Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn could also be of interest to Milwaukee. The cost won't be prohibitive, Adames would make the team better, he is a high energy player, and a trade would make a lot of sense.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Corbin Burnes being traded from the Brewers to the Orioles has implications for the San Francisco Giants. Milwaukee has signaled its intent to re-tool, trading away a Cy Young-caliber pitcher because he was entering the last year of his contract. Enter the SF Giants, who could use another Brewers player on an expiring deal: shortstop Willy Adames. There are numerous reasons why Adames makes sense for the Giants. First of all, going into the season with just Marco Luciano penciled in as their starting shortstop is too risky. Adames is a plus-plus defender, is 28 years old, and is an above-average hitter. Acquiring him would be a big swing for the Giants, and it would allow them to move Luciano into a competition for the third base position, which currently consists of J.D. Davis, Casey Schmitt, Wilmer Flores, and perhaps David Villar. Davis is the frontrunner to play there, except it would make more sense for him to play DH given the current roster construction, especially if they acquired someone on the left side of the infield. So the big question is: what would it take to acquire Adames? The cost for Burnes wasn't that high, simply because he is a short-term rental. And as good as Adames is, he has less value than Burnes. So the SF Giants would probably have to give up a mid Top-100 prospect type (Carson Whisenhunt?) and perhaps a bit more. Arms like Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn could also be of interest to Milwaukee. The cost won't be prohibitive, Adames would make the team better, he is a high energy player, and a trade would make a lot of sense. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

San Francisco Giants, Patrick Bailey, David Villar & Luis Gonzalez shared who their favorite teams & athletes were while growing up!Patrick Bailey has had a very successful rookie season & opened up on his family life with wife & his 9 month old daughter.David Villar reflected on hitting a grand slam earlier in the year & opened up on who he is away from the field. He also had some fun talking about his love for Harry Potter!Outfielder, Luis Gonzalez, said hello from spring training & gave an update on his rehab after undergoing successful surgery on his back.For video footage:Patrick Bailey - https://youtu.be/0QSlYuEUrhA?si=S6anFuakx_jf1GmYDavid Villar - https://youtu.be/e10N1woELOc?si=oBIZEWv-Kv1BvG9OLuis Gonzalez - https://youtu.be/k8n3zlfEZDU?si=OL2SSxFmZeFLVKiTMake sure to visit www.Baseballism.com to pick up the Baseballism T shirt I'm wearing in these interviews! Baseballism has lots of MLB team/player/movie inspired clothing that all baseball fans would love so make sure to check them out online or in one of their many locations throughout the USFor more exclusive content, follow the Jim on Base Show on social media (Twitter/Instagram/TikToK): @JimonBaseShow

Do the San Francisco Giants have a legitimate shot at signing Shohei Ohtani? Ohtani has established himself as the game's best player, and the Giants have a track record of failing to land superstars. Last winter, the SF Giants went all-out in their efforts to sign Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. They even had a deal in place with Correa. As such, there's no reason why the Giants won't make the same efforts to bring Ohtani to the Bay Area.Is it more realistic that the Giants trade for a reliable starting pitcher or an impact position player at this year's trade deadline? Farhan Zaidi recently said that the Giants won't target depth for their rotation, given all of the options they currently have. He also said that they aren't likely to target an outfielder. So the Giants will either go for an impact starter or a middle infielder, or both. In terms of what's more realistic, probably a middle infielder with at least one more year of team control so they have an option at short when Brandon Crawford's contract expires after the season.Who would the SF Giants be willing to give up in a trade? That obviously depends on whom they're trading for. If Ohtani becomes available in a trade, the Giants would likely put just about everyone on the table. Outside of Ohtani, the Giants wouldn't be offering their top guys, such as Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Bailey, and Marco Luciano. Players with some major league experience could be dealt, like David Villar and Joey Bart.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Do the San Francisco Giants have a legitimate shot at signing Shohei Ohtani? Ohtani has established himself as the game's best player, and the Giants have a track record of failing to land superstars. Last winter, the SF Giants went all-out in their efforts to sign Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. They even had a deal in place with Correa. As such, there's no reason why the Giants won't make the same efforts to bring Ohtani to the Bay Area. Is it more realistic that the Giants trade for a reliable starting pitcher or an impact position player at this year's trade deadline? Farhan Zaidi recently said that the Giants won't target depth for their rotation, given all of the options they currently have. He also said that they aren't likely to target an outfielder. So the Giants will either go for an impact starter or a middle infielder, or both. In terms of what's more realistic, probably a middle infielder with at least one more year of team control so they have an option at short when Brandon Crawford's contract expires after the season. Who would the SF Giants be willing to give up in a trade? That obviously depends on whom they're trading for. If Ohtani becomes available in a trade, the Giants would likely put just about everyone on the table. Outside of Ohtani, the Giants wouldn't be offering their top guys, such as Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, Patrick Bailey, and Marco Luciano. Players with some major league experience could be dealt, like David Villar and Joey Bart. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants just can't be stopped right now. Even when it looks like the Giants are going to lose, they're finding a way to come back and win. That's been the case in two straight games against the Padres, with the Giants falling behind early but coming back in the late innings to win. Last night, the SF Giants' winning rally was started by Luis Matos, who continued to show excellent plate discipline and drew a walk. Patrick Bailey continued to show poise beyond his years as he rocketed a single to left. Casey Schmitt, of all people, drew a walk against Josh Hader. And after David Villar struck out, Joc Pederson drew a very tough left-on-left walk against Hader to literally 'walk' off the Padres.The unsung heroes in the Giants' comebacks were their rookie pitchers Tristan Beck (last night) and Keaton Winn (on the previous night). The Giants have used their pitching staff in a non-traditional way—to great effect. The SF Giants probably don't win either game if Winn and Beck don't take down a combined eight innings of one run ball. The San Francisco Giants' bullpen has been elite lately, and taking down more innings than any other team.Finally, the Giants had one great development on the health front and one bad development. J.D. Davis, who is more than deserving of being an All-Star this year, returned to the starting lineup at third base for the first time since spraining his ankle in St. Louis. LaMonte Wade Jr., on the other hand, was a late scratch with side tightness and will have an MRI today. Hopefully it's nothing serious, because Wade is also clearly deserving of an All-Star nod this season as well.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants just can't be stopped right now. Even when it looks like the Giants are going to lose, they're finding a way to come back and win. That's been the case in two straight games against the Padres, with the Giants falling behind early but coming back in the late innings to win. Last night, the SF Giants' winning rally was started by Luis Matos, who continued to show excellent plate discipline and drew a walk. Patrick Bailey continued to show poise beyond his years as he rocketed a single to left. Casey Schmitt, of all people, drew a walk against Josh Hader. And after David Villar struck out, Joc Pederson drew a very tough left-on-left walk against Hader to literally 'walk' off the Padres. The unsung heroes in the Giants' comebacks were their rookie pitchers Tristan Beck (last night) and Keaton Winn (on the previous night). The Giants have used their pitching staff in a non-traditional way—to great effect. The SF Giants probably don't win either game if Winn and Beck don't take down a combined eight innings of one run ball. The San Francisco Giants' bullpen has been elite lately, and taking down more innings than any other team. Finally, the Giants had one great development on the health front and one bad development. J.D. Davis, who is more than deserving of being an All-Star this year, returned to the starting lineup at third base for the first time since spraining his ankle in St. Louis. LaMonte Wade Jr., on the other hand, was a late scratch with side tightness and will have an MRI today. Hopefully it's nothing serious, because Wade is also clearly deserving of an All-Star nod this season as well. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Eric, Willie, and Chad review the last week in Giants' baseball, and they are HOT and in the hunt. Now 3 games over .500 and holding a wild card spot, the Giants are poised to make a run at the postseason. The bad news is that Mitch Haniger will be out for a couple of months with a broken right forearm, and moments before he was hit by a pitch, J.D. Davis went out with a sprained ankle. The silver lining is the call up of phenom Luis Matos, who made his MLB debut today in St. Louis by lining a single in his first AB. He's the youngest Giant to make his debut since Madison Bumgarner. Keaton Winn made his MLB debut in St. Louis with a 4-inning save, but what's odd is that was the first MLB park he ever set foot in. Should Crawford be the new set up man? Speaking of hot, Pederson is hitting .480 over the past week plus, Doval is a perfect 14/14 in saves, Taylor Rogers has allowed only 1 ER in his last 18.2 IP, and his twin brother Tyler is down to a 1.71 ERA. We also chat about what Joey Bart's future is after being demoted to AAA. Barring injury or a trade, we all agree that he may stay there for the year.www.torturecast.comwww.facebook.com/torturecast@torturecast

A few short weeks ago, it was hard to imagine the San Francisco Giants surging above .500 and into playoff position, but that's exactly what happened. The Giants went 5-1 on their most recent homestand, and they followed it up by going 5-2 on a road trip vs. two first-place teams. The SF Giants' playoff odds, according to FanGraphs, are over 50% for the first time all year.Logan Webb continued his return to his status as an ace with another brilliant performance in Milwaukee. Early in the season, Webb was allowing an uncharacteristic number of home runs, and the league had a high BABIP against him. Sure enough, mean regression happened for Webb and now his numbers look like that of an ace once again. Mitch Haniger also started showing signs of life in the Milwaukee series.Thairo Estrada, arguably the San Francisco Giants' best player so far this season, landed on the injured list with a left wrist sprain. David Villar was recalled. Austin Slater was activated ahead of today's game, and Tristan Beck was somewhat surprisingly optioned. The seemingly clear counter move for Slater would be Bryce Johnson, which suggests Slater may not be ready to play the field. Meanwhile, Joc Pederson and Joey Bart are progressing from their injuries.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

A few short weeks ago, it was hard to imagine the San Francisco Giants surging above .500 and into playoff position, but that's exactly what happened. The Giants went 5-1 on their most recent homestand, and they followed it up by going 5-2 on a road trip vs. two first-place teams. The SF Giants' playoff odds, according to FanGraphs, are over 50% for the first time all year. Logan Webb continued his return to his status as an ace with another brilliant performance in Milwaukee. Early in the season, Webb was allowing an uncharacteristic number of home runs, and the league had a high BABIP against him. Sure enough, mean regression happened for Webb and now his numbers look like that of an ace once again. Mitch Haniger also started showing signs of life in the Milwaukee series. Thairo Estrada, arguably the San Francisco Giants' best player so far this season, landed on the injured list with a left wrist sprain. David Villar was recalled. Austin Slater was activated ahead of today's game, and Tristan Beck was somewhat surprisingly optioned. The seemingly clear counter move for Slater would be Bryce Johnson, which suggests Slater may not be ready to play the field. Meanwhile, Joc Pederson and Joey Bart are progressing from their injuries. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

It's no secret that San Francisco Giants infielder David Villar has struggled at the plate this season. After almost 100 plate appearances, Villar is hitting just .145/.242/.325, which translates to a 57 wRC+, meaning about 63% below average offense. At what point do the SF Giants consider sending him down to the Minors, and who would be his replacement? Casey Schmitt is an obvious answer, but he's actually been below league average offensively in Triple-A. But he's been better in recent weeks and provides plus defense all over the diamond. It could be worth giving him a look in the near future.The Giants' bullpen has been one of their biggest problems this year—if not the biggest. What can be done about it? It's been a lot of fluky performance and guys pitching poorly in unfamiliar roles. The SF Giants should stop using so many long relievers and lean more heavily on their tradition relief arms, many of whom have bloated ERAs but better underlying metrics.Does it make sense for the San Francisco Giants to prioritize ground ball pitchers and de-prioritize defense? This would be a legitimate question if it were true, but at least this season, the SF Giants are not de-emphasizing defense, particularly in the infield. J.D. Davis has been outstanding at third base. Brandon Crawford is well known for his glove (but admittedly seems to be in decline). Thairo Estrada is a solid up-the-middle defender. And LaMonte Wade Jr. has done a very nice job at first base.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

It's no secret that San Francisco Giants infielder David Villar has struggled at the plate this season. After almost 100 plate appearances, Villar is hitting just .145/.242/.325, which translates to a 57 wRC+, meaning about 63% below average offense. At what point do the SF Giants consider sending him down to the Minors, and who would be his replacement? Casey Schmitt is an obvious answer, but he's actually been below league average offensively in Triple-A. But he's been better in recent weeks and provides plus defense all over the diamond. It could be worth giving him a look in the near future. The Giants' bullpen has been one of their biggest problems this year—if not the biggest. What can be done about it? It's been a lot of fluky performance and guys pitching poorly in unfamiliar roles. The SF Giants should stop using so many long relievers and lean more heavily on their tradition relief arms, many of whom have bloated ERAs but better underlying metrics. Does it make sense for the San Francisco Giants to prioritize ground ball pitchers and de-prioritize defense? This would be a legitimate question if it were true, but at least this season, the SF Giants are not de-emphasizing defense, particularly in the infield. J.D. Davis has been outstanding at third base. Brandon Crawford is well known for his glove (but admittedly seems to be in decline). Thairo Estrada is a solid up-the-middle defender. And LaMonte Wade Jr. has done a very nice job at first base. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants couldn't find a way to win a game in Detroit. Mercifully, they didn't lose three games as the finale was rained out. But the SF Giants lost two winnable games against the Tigers, who will likely end up as one of the worst teams in the American League.The Giants got some late heroics from J.D. Davis in the first game of the series, as his three-run homer tied things up in the eighth. But the Giants struggled to score in extra innings, and an extremely costly mental mistake in the bottom of the 11th by David Villar potentially cost the Giants the game. Camilo Doval was one out away from securing the win but allowed a walk-off homer on a 3-0 pitch.Then the SF Giants blew a 6-1 lead in the second game of the series. They scored two runs in each of the first three innings, but then failed to score again the rest of the way, even in extra frames when they were twice given a free runner on second to start the inning. Tony DeSclafnai was outstanding, but it was a wasted effort as Brandon Crawford booted three balls and Blake Sabol took a horrible route on a line drive. The bullpen continued to be a huge liability in the early season and the Giants left Detroit 5-9, which is the third-worst record in the NL.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants couldn't find a way to win a game in Detroit. Mercifully, they didn't lose three games as the finale was rained out. But the SF Giants lost two winnable games against the Tigers, who will likely end up as one of the worst teams in the American League. The Giants got some late heroics from J.D. Davis in the first game of the series, as his three-run homer tied things up in the eighth. But the Giants struggled to score in extra innings, and an extremely costly mental mistake in the bottom of the 11th by David Villar potentially cost the Giants the game. Camilo Doval was one out away from securing the win but allowed a walk-off homer on a 3-0 pitch. Then the SF Giants blew a 6-1 lead in the second game of the series. They scored two runs in each of the first three innings, but then failed to score again the rest of the way, even in extra frames when they were twice given a free runner on second to start the inning. Tony DeSclafnai was outstanding, but it was a wasted effort as Brandon Crawford booted three balls and Blake Sabol took a horrible route on a line drive. The bullpen continued to be a huge liability in the early season and the Giants left Detroit 5-9, which is the third-worst record in the NL. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Managing in the big leagues isn't easy. Every move is scrutinized, and that was very apparent when Gabe Kapler made what looked like a major mistake the other day allowing Ross Stripling to face Salvador Perez in a huge spot late in the game. However, in last night's win over the Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants' manager pulled all the right strings and the team responded with a satisfying 5-0 win over the rival Dodgers.It couldn't have been easy to pull Alex Wood when he was one out away from qualifying for a win. But it was absolute the right move for the Giants as a team, with Wood historically struggling the third time through the order, a dangerous righty coming up to the plate, and a solid righty in Jakob Junis waiting in the bullpen. Kapler went to Junis, who got out of the inning with the tying run on second base. Later in the game, Kapler made another correct move going to lefty Scott Alexander for a lefty hitter with the bases loaded and one out, and the SF Giants clinging to a 2-0 lead.Alexander did his job. He got a weak ground ball in front of the mound and made a great barehanded play and flip home for the force out. He then struck out the next hitter to strand the bases loaded. Offensively, Joc Pederson got things going in the first with a two-run double, and David Villar and Brandon Crawford later homered to give the Giants some breathing room. So far, the SF Giants' defense has not been a problem and was solid against last night as the Giants got a much-needed victory over LA.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Managing in the big leagues isn't easy. Every move is scrutinized, and that was very apparent when Gabe Kapler made what looked like a major mistake the other day allowing Ross Stripling to face Salvador Perez in a huge spot late in the game. However, in last night's win over the Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants' manager pulled all the right strings and the team responded with a satisfying 5-0 win over the rival Dodgers. It couldn't have been easy to pull Alex Wood when he was one out away from qualifying for a win. But it was absolute the right move for the Giants as a team, with Wood historically struggling the third time through the order, a dangerous righty coming up to the plate, and a solid righty in Jakob Junis waiting in the bullpen. Kapler went to Junis, who got out of the inning with the tying run on second base. Later in the game, Kapler made another correct move going to lefty Scott Alexander for a lefty hitter with the bases loaded and one out, and the SF Giants clinging to a 2-0 lead. Alexander did his job. He got a weak ground ball in front of the mound and made a great barehanded play and flip home for the force out. He then struck out the next hitter to strand the bases loaded. Offensively, Joc Pederson got things going in the first with a two-run double, and David Villar and Brandon Crawford later homered to give the Giants some breathing room. So far, the SF Giants' defense has not been a problem and was solid against last night as the Giants got a much-needed victory over LA. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

In the Deep – Jordan (@BuntSingles) and Shwebsi (@shwebsi) start with some listener mailbag questions before jumping into a potential new format for the show in 2023. Let us know what you think! Timestamps: Intro (0:16) Deep Dive - Jorge Soler (6:00) Deep Dive - Joey Wiemer and Brice Turang (17:38) Team-by-team breakdown of

The story of the 2023 San Francisco Giants offense so far has been pretty simple: strikeouts, walks, and homers. Those are what's known as the "three true outcomes," but will that be a defining characteristic for the SF Giants all season? It's too early to tell, and one thing is certain: they won't keep striking out at this high of a rate.Players like Michael Conforto and Joc Pederson, each striking out about 40% of the time despite career K rates of around 24%, are skewing the numbers and are certain to make more contact as they continue to get at-bats. The Giants also have high-contact players such as Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrada on the roster. They're certainly a power and patience team, but don't expect this many strikeouts moving forward.Getting to other mailbag questions:  Is there any chance we see Gary Sanchez on the Major League roster? Do you think the Giants made a mistake letting go of Jason Vosler? When Joey Bart, Mitch Haniger, and Austin Slater return it's almost certain that Matt Beaty goes down. Who are the other two players you project to be removed from the 26-man roster? Jo Adell for Joey Bart? Both guys could probably use a change of scenery. Do you think David Villar is being slept on? Career 125 OPS+ in the majors but it feels like he's not appreciated by a lot of fans.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The story of the 2023 San Francisco Giants offense so far has been pretty simple: strikeouts, walks, and homers. Those are what's known as the "three true outcomes," but will that be a defining characteristic for the SF Giants all season? It's too early to tell, and one thing is certain: they won't keep striking out at this high of a rate. Players like Michael Conforto and Joc Pederson, each striking out about 40% of the time despite career K rates of around 24%, are skewing the numbers and are certain to make more contact as they continue to get at-bats. The Giants also have high-contact players such as Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrada on the roster. They're certainly a power and patience team, but don't expect this many strikeouts moving forward. Getting to other mailbag questions:  Is there any chance we see Gary Sanchez on the Major League roster? Do you think the Giants made a mistake letting go of Jason Vosler? When Joey Bart, Mitch Haniger, and Austin Slater return it's almost certain that Matt Beaty goes down. Who are the other two players you project to be removed from the 26-man roster? Jo Adell for Joey Bart? Both guys could probably use a change of scenery. Do you think David Villar is being slept on? Career 125 OPS+ in the majors but it feels like he's not appreciated by a lot of fans. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

As Monday starts the first full week of the baseball season, Kainani Stevens and our Locked On MLB hosts tell you everything you need to know from the day in baseball on Locked On Game 2 Game: MLB. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!ebay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit. eBay Motors dot com. Let's ride. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase.Ultimate Pro Baseball GMTo download the game just visit probaseballgm.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you'll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Blake Sabol be Connor Joe 2.0, or something more than that? Will Bryce Johnson establish himself as a major league starter? The San Francisco Giants and their fans are seemingly about to find out, as Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said during the television broadcast last night that Sabol, Johnson, and Sean Hjelle are likely to make the SF Giants' Opening Day roster.Sabol is a Rule 5 pick who was tried out at catcher all spring, but it was actually an injury to Mitch Haniger that seemingly opened the door for him. Sabol has been an outfielder for the majority of his pro career, and he's likely to become the latest in a long line of different Opening Day left fielders for the Giants. Johnson was a major disruptor on the bases for the SF Giants this spring, and his switch-hitting ability help counterbalance what will be an all-lefty outfield without Haniger and Slater. He also provides strong defense in center.Switching gears, what will the SF Giants do at third base if David Villar struggles out of the gates? Will they settle for below average defenders such as J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores? Or will Casey Schmitt be a realistic option? Zaidi said on the broadcast that he believes Schmitt is really close to MLB ready. He's ticketed for Triple-A, but could become an option at third or short if he hits well in Sacramento.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Will Blake Sabol be Connor Joe 2.0, or something more than that? Will Bryce Johnson establish himself as a major league starter? The San Francisco Giants and their fans are seemingly about to find out, as Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said during the television broadcast last night that Sabol, Johnson, and Sean Hjelle are likely to make the SF Giants' Opening Day roster. Sabol is a Rule 5 pick who was tried out at catcher all spring, but it was actually an injury to Mitch Haniger that seemingly opened the door for him. Sabol has been an outfielder for the majority of his pro career, and he's likely to become the latest in a long line of different Opening Day left fielders for the Giants. Johnson was a major disruptor on the bases for the SF Giants this spring, and his switch-hitting ability help counterbalance what will be an all-lefty outfield without Haniger and Slater. He also provides strong defense in center. Switching gears, what will the SF Giants do at third base if David Villar struggles out of the gates? Will they settle for below average defenders such as J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores? Or will Casey Schmitt be a realistic option? Zaidi said on the broadcast that he believes Schmitt is really close to MLB ready. He's ticketed for Triple-A, but could become an option at third or short if he hits well in Sacramento. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants are far from a perfect team, but are they only 19th-best in the league? Even last year, when so much went wrong, the Giants found themselves in the middle of the pack. Locked On MLB hosts have voted, however, and your 2023 SF Giants came in with a ranking of No. 19 in the league. Is that right? Or are the Giants being slept on once again?The SF Giants' depth chart is explored position-by-position across the infield. FanGraphs has unveiled its annual power rankings by position, and the infield is examined closely. Starting at catcher, the Giants are volatile with former No. 2 overall pick Joey Bart having plenty of upside, but also downside. At first base, LaMonte Wade Jr. could be the 2021 version of himself, or he could struggle like he did in 2022. Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis are adequate platoon partners/backups there. At second base, the Giants have themselves a solid everyday player in Thairo Estrada. At third, David Villar will get an opportunity but needs to prove he's a sure-thing major leaguer. Again, Flores and Davis serve as depth, but neither is great defensively so this could become a problem. Casey Schmitt looms as a strong defensive fallback option but must hit in Triple-A. At short, Brandon Crawford should have another solid season, anchored by defense. Estrada serves as solid backup, with Brett Wisely and Isan Díaz also options in the middle infield.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants are far from a perfect team, but are they only 19th-best in the league? Even last year, when so much went wrong, the Giants found themselves in the middle of the pack. Locked On MLB hosts have voted, however, and your 2023 SF Giants came in with a ranking of No. 19 in the league. Is that right? Or are the Giants being slept on once again? The SF Giants' depth chart is explored position-by-position across the infield. FanGraphs has unveiled its annual power rankings by position, and the infield is examined closely. Starting at catcher, the Giants are volatile with former No. 2 overall pick Joey Bart having plenty of upside, but also downside. At first base, LaMonte Wade Jr. could be the 2021 version of himself, or he could struggle like he did in 2022. Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis are adequate platoon partners/backups there. At second base, the Giants have themselves a solid everyday player in Thairo Estrada. At third, David Villar will get an opportunity but needs to prove he's a sure-thing major leaguer. Again, Flores and Davis serve as depth, but neither is great defensively so this could become a problem. Casey Schmitt looms as a strong defensive fallback option but must hit in Triple-A. At short, Brandon Crawford should have another solid season, anchored by defense. Estrada serves as solid backup, with Brett Wisely and Isan Díaz also options in the middle infield. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Eno and Al discuss the latest news items, including some positive developments for Kyle Wright and Byron Buxton, and they look at several position battles that are still looming with opening day less than two weeks away. Eno also identifies several pitchers who are Stuff+ laggards.Rundown1:08 News updates: Edwin Díaz, Kyle Wright, Byron Buxton, Mitch Haniger, David Villar, Eric Haase, Jackson Jobe20:12 Position battles - hitters: NYM 3B, LAD CF, MIA OF, CHC OF/DH, KC OF, OAK CF37:03 Position battles - rotations: OAK, ATL, ARI, TB, CIN49:06 Stuff+ laggardsFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow Al on Twitter: @almelchiorBBe-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.comSubscribe to The Athletic at $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsSubscribe to the Rates & Barrels YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno and Al discuss the latest news items, including some positive developments for Kyle Wright and Byron Buxton, and they look at several position battles that are still looming with opening day less than two weeks away. Eno also identifies several pitchers who are Stuff+ laggards. Rundown 1:08 News updates: Edwin Díaz, Kyle Wright, Byron Buxton, Mitch Haniger, David Villar, Eric Haase, Jackson Jobe 20:12 Position battles - hitters: NYM 3B, LAD CF, MIA OF, CHC OF/DH, KC OF, OAK CF 37:03 Position battles - rotations: OAK, ATL, ARI, TB, CIN 49:06 Stuff+ laggards Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Al on Twitter: @almelchiorBB e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Subscribe to The Athletic at $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Subscribe to the Rates & Barrels YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two sides to every coin. The San Francisco Giants are suddenly dealing with an injury bug—which happens to every team every year in some form or another. Mitch Haniger has a Grade 1 oblique strain; Brandon Crawford has left knee discomfort; David Villar has a mild hip flexor strain. None of these injuries necessarily mean those players will miss the Giants' Opening Day game in New York, but they certainly could. In that case, is it time for SF Giants fans to panic? Or do the Giants have the depth to cover these injuries?Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol might stand to benefit the most if there's an injury to an outfielder. He might make the team regardless considering how well he's performed in spring, but the current catcher has spent most of his career in the outfield. If Haniger has to start the season on the IL, it seems likely that the San Francisco Giants would use the opportunity to keep Sabol on the roster. Regarding Brandon Crawford, an injury to the veteran could create some problematic defensive alignments, with Thairo Estrada moving to short, David Villar (if he's healthy) moving to second, and J.D. Davis (or Wilmer Flores) moving to third.Alternatively, the SF Giants could give an opportunity to young players like Brett Wisely or Isan Díaz, both of whom are on the 40-man roster and play middle infield. More so than in recent years, the Giants have some interesting young talent that appears ready to step in in the event of these injuries. The SF Giants also have Casey Schmitt, the star defender, close to MLB ready. Schmitt will almost certainly start the season in Triple-A, but if he dominates offensively, he could quickly become an answer at either third base or shortstop.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

There are two sides to every coin. The San Francisco Giants are suddenly dealing with an injury bug—which happens to every team every year in some form or another. Mitch Haniger has a Grade 1 oblique strain; Brandon Crawford has left knee discomfort; David Villar has a mild hip flexor strain. None of these injuries necessarily mean those players will miss the Giants' Opening Day game in New York, but they certainly could. In that case, is it time for SF Giants fans to panic? Or do the Giants have the depth to cover these injuries? Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol might stand to benefit the most if there's an injury to an outfielder. He might make the team regardless considering how well he's performed in spring, but the current catcher has spent most of his career in the outfield. If Haniger has to start the season on the IL, it seems likely that the San Francisco Giants would use the opportunity to keep Sabol on the roster. Regarding Brandon Crawford, an injury to the veteran could create some problematic defensive alignments, with Thairo Estrada moving to short, David Villar (if he's healthy) moving to second, and J.D. Davis (or Wilmer Flores) moving to third. Alternatively, the SF Giants could give an opportunity to young players like Brett Wisely or Isan Díaz, both of whom are on the 40-man roster and play middle infield. More so than in recent years, the Giants have some interesting young talent that appears ready to step in in the event of these injuries. The SF Giants also have Casey Schmitt, the star defender, close to MLB ready. Schmitt will almost certainly start the season in Triple-A, but if he dominates offensively, he could quickly become an answer at either third base or shortstop. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The regular season is just over three weeks away, and there are some burning questions surrounding the San Francisco Giants. The first question is all about the corners. In the outfield, can Michael Conforto and/or Mitch Haniger return to All-Star form? For the SF Giants to have a successful season, one or both of these players probably has to get back to being a really good major league player. In the infield, can the Giants' David Villar and LaMonte Wade Jr. handle the job? Villar is still relatively unproven, and Wade regressed heavily in 2022 after a terrific 2021.Next question: Is the Giants' defense improved enough to avoid sinking their season? Defense was such a huge problem last year, but when you look at the players who hurt the San Francisco Giants the most, it's a lot of guys who are no longer on the team. Either that or they don't figure to play as much, or they are moving to less important positions. Joc Pederson comes out of the outfield. Darin Ruf is gone. Luis González is depth as opposed to a starter. No more Tommy La Stella or Brandon Belt, who wasn't moving well at all last year.Will this be the year that young SF Giants finally start to demonstrate that the team has a good pipeline? Kyle Harrison and Casey Schmitt have big seasons ahead of them. Can Villar and/or Joey Bart make the leap? How about Vaun Brown and Marco Luciano? And finally, is the SF Giants' rotation, which lost the huge upside of Carlos Rodón, be able to perform well with depth being its greatest strength? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Baseball is a crazy game. The San Francisco Giants were 3-9 in Spring Training, and facing one of the greatest lineups ever assembled. But in the end, the SF Giants took down Team USA rather easily, cruising to a 5-1 victory at Scottsdale Stadium. Anthony DeSclafani and Sean Manaea worked three effective innings apiece, both exhibiting mid-90s velocity that bodes well for the regular season.On offense, LaMonte Wade Jr. continues to demonstrate that his knee is doing much better. He's sitting in his legs more in his swing and it showed with a ringing leadoff double against Miles Mikolas. Mitch Haniger, one of the Giants' biggest additions of the offseason, also added two doubles. David Villar collected his first hit of the spring and then launched and impressive opposite-field homer. Luis Matos hit a loud oppo double as well.In other news, Carlos Rodón is injured. The newest Yankees starter will start the season on the injured list after it was revealed today that he has a mild forearm strain. The SF Giants made headlines again by failing (or choosing not to) re-sign a starting pitcher coming off an ace-caliber season for San Francisco. Pitchers routinely break down and/or become ineffective, and it often happens quickly. Hopefully Rodón is alright, but it's not what Yankees fans want to see after one spring start in his first year of a six-year contract.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Baseball is a crazy game. The San Francisco Giants were 3-9 in Spring Training, and facing one of the greatest lineups ever assembled. But in the end, the SF Giants took down Team USA rather easily, cruising to a 5-1 victory at Scottsdale Stadium. Anthony DeSclafani and Sean Manaea worked three effective innings apiece, both exhibiting mid-90s velocity that bodes well for the regular season. On offense, LaMonte Wade Jr. continues to demonstrate that his knee is doing much better. He's sitting in his legs more in his swing and it showed with a ringing leadoff double against Miles Mikolas. Mitch Haniger, one of the Giants' biggest additions of the offseason, also added two doubles. David Villar collected his first hit of the spring and then launched and impressive opposite-field homer. Luis Matos hit a loud oppo double as well. In other news, Carlos Rodón is injured. The newest Yankees starter will start the season on the injured list after it was revealed today that he has a mild forearm strain. The SF Giants made headlines again by failing (or choosing not to) re-sign a starting pitcher coming off an ace-caliber season for San Francisco. Pitchers routinely break down and/or become ineffective, and it often happens quickly. Hopefully Rodón is alright, but it's not what Yankees fans want to see after one spring start in his first year of a six-year contract. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

For every Carlos Rodón, there's often a Tommy La Stella. The San Francisco Giants got a career year out of Rodón in 2022, but they also suffered through injuries and underperformance from like likes of La Stella and others. Who on the 2023 SF Giants are the candidates to have a career year? And who will underperform? By definition, it's a hard question to answer, but the Giants have a lot of candidates to have big seasons and not many who are likely to play poorly. Youngsters Joey Bart and David Villar still have a lot to prove, however.What are the rules for Rule 5 picks? Specifically, what is going to happen with Blake Sabol? Sabol was a Rule 5 pick by the Reds, and the SF Giants traded for him minutes later. Sabol must make the Giants' 26-man roster—and stay there all season—or be offered back to the Pirates. He's part of the catcher competition with Bart, Roberto Pérez, and Austin Wynns.Will the SF Giants be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Unless they're totally out of the race, which is unlikely, expect them to be either buyers or somewhere in between. Even when they've "sold" under Farhan Zaidi, the moves have been relatively minor. He famously held onto Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith in 2019, and Rodón last year. When they've been in their best buying position, the Giants acquired Kris Bryant. Expect those trends to continue depending on where the Giants are in late July.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

For every Carlos Rodón, there's often a Tommy La Stella. The San Francisco Giants got a career year out of Rodón in 2022, but they also suffered through injuries and underperformance from like likes of La Stella and others. Who on the 2023 SF Giants are the candidates to have a career year? And who will underperform? By definition, it's a hard question to answer, but the Giants have a lot of candidates to have big seasons and not many who are likely to play poorly. Youngsters Joey Bart and David Villar still have a lot to prove, however. What are the rules for Rule 5 picks? Specifically, what is going to happen with Blake Sabol? Sabol was a Rule 5 pick by the Reds, and the SF Giants traded for him minutes later. Sabol must make the Giants' 26-man roster—and stay there all season—or be offered back to the Pirates. He's part of the catcher competition with Bart, Roberto Pérez, and Austin Wynns. Will the SF Giants be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Unless they're totally out of the race, which is unlikely, expect them to be either buyers or somewhere in between. Even when they've "sold" under Farhan Zaidi, the moves have been relatively minor. He famously held onto Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith in 2019, and Rodón last year. When they've been in their best buying position, the Giants acquired Kris Bryant. Expect those trends to continue depending on where the Giants are in late July. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Carlos Rodón was the latest example. The San Francisco Giants signed the high-octane lefty to a two-year deal with an out-out, and it seemingly went exactly as planned. The SF Giants got a year of an ace, and then they moved on without having to make a long-term commitment. We saw the same thing with Kevin Gausman, who played for the Giants on two straight one-year deals. Michael Conforto could be next, and Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea also have opt-outs after 2023.For the Giants, this is an effective strategy, but it's not what fans should expect in all cases. Fans want players to stick around for a while, and there are two ways that happens: homegrown talent, and superstars. The San Francsico Giants offered nine years, $360 million to Aaron Judge. They agreed to a 13-year deal with Carlos Correa. They offered 13 years to Bryce Harper. They're willing to go long-term for the best of the best, but not really for anyone else. And homegrown players come with six-plus seasons of team control.Switching gears, is there any chance Casey Schmitt takes over third base with a good spring and a poor one from David Villar? Is this a make or break season for Farhan Zaidi? Is Marco Luciano really someone who deserves to be on the back end of top 100 lists as opposed to the front? Will MLB's new rules make holding runners more or less important? Who has a longer leash: J.D. Davis or LaMonte Wade Jr.? And is there any chance Stephen Piscotty makes the team?Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Tyler Glasnow is dealing with an oblique injury. How far will he drop? Let's talk deep sleeper hitters, starting with Oscar Colas. Spencer Steer and David Villar have opportunities with their respective teams. Will Oswald Peraza win the Yankees shortstop job? Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Get Fantasy Baseball Today merch here: https://store.cbssports.com/collections/fantasy-baseball-today?utm_source=podcast-apple-com&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=buy-our-merch&utm_content=fantasy-baseball-collection Follow FBT on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fbtpod?_t=8WyMkPdKOJ1&_r=1 Follow our FBT team on Twitter: @FBTPod, @CTowersCBS, @CBSScottWhite, @Roto_Frank Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/fantasybaseballtoday Sign up for the FBT Newsletter at https://www.cbssports.com/newsletters/fantasy-baseball-today/ For more fantasy baseball coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/ You can listen to Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Fantasy Baseball Today in 5 podcast." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Rodón was the latest example. The San Francisco Giants signed the high-octane lefty to a two-year deal with an out-out, and it seemingly went exactly as planned. The SF Giants got a year of an ace, and then they moved on without having to make a long-term commitment. We saw the same thing with Kevin Gausman, who played for the Giants on two straight one-year deals. Michael Conforto could be next, and Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea also have opt-outs after 2023. For the Giants, this is an effective strategy, but it's not what fans should expect in all cases. Fans want players to stick around for a while, and there are two ways that happens: homegrown talent, and superstars. The San Francsico Giants offered nine years, $360 million to Aaron Judge. They agreed to a 13-year deal with Carlos Correa. They offered 13 years to Bryce Harper. They're willing to go long-term for the best of the best, but not really for anyone else. And homegrown players come with six-plus seasons of team control. Switching gears, is there any chance Casey Schmitt takes over third base with a good spring and a poor one from David Villar? Is this a make or break season for Farhan Zaidi? Is Marco Luciano really someone who deserves to be on the back end of top 100 lists as opposed to the front? Will MLB's new rules make holding runners more or less important? Who has a longer leash: J.D. Davis or LaMonte Wade Jr.? And is there any chance Stephen Piscotty makes the team? Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

"Late Night" LaMonte Wade Jr. burst onto the scene as the San Francisco Giants won 107 games in 2021. But as great as his '21 season was, Wade's 2022 was almost as bad. A knee injury in Spring Training lingered throughout the 2022 season, and Wade was essentially a non-factor for the Giants as they sputtered their way to a disappointing 81-81 season last year.Looking ahead to 2023, however, there is reason for optimism. Wade's knee is supposedly doing much better, and he and the SF Giants believe he can get back to being more of the hitter he was in 2021 as opposed to 2022. With Brandon Belt now on the Blue Jays, Wade figures to the be the Giants' primary first baseman against right-handed pitching. He's been solid there defensively in his career.But Wade will need a platoon partner. That's where Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis come in. Some have said that David Villar, Davis, and Flores are redundant on the roster, but each has a clear and defined role. Villar projects as the starter at third base, and Wade and Joc Pederson need platoon partners. Flores has been an above-average defender at first base in his career, so he figures to pair with Wade. Davis is good offensively against righties and lefties, and he figures to pair with Pederson at DH.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

While San Francisco Giants infielders David Villar, J.D. Davis, and Wilmer Flores might seem similar in a lot of ways, each has a clear and important role on the roster. Davis projects as the SF Giants' starting third baseman, Davis projects as the right-handed platoon partner for Joc Pederson at DH, and Flores projects as the right-handed platoon partner at first base with LaMonte Wade Jr. The Giants should want not part of Pederson or Wade facing lefties, so each of those roles seems important, and therefore not redundant.Do the SF Giants need to trade for a middle infielder? If Brandon Crawford goes down with an injury, will the San Francisco Giants' infield defense become a huge problem? On first glance it might seem that way, but if Crawford goes down, someone will likely come up from the Minors to fill his spot on the roster. That person might be Casey Schmitt, who's getting work at shortstop this spring and even played the position in the Minors last year at times. Schmitt is known as being a great glove at third base. Brett Wisely and Isan Díaz could also be middle infield options to replace Crawford's spot on the roster.Will the Giants chase elite talent in future offseasons? Will they pursue Shohei Ohtani and Manny Machado next winter? Will those guys sign with the Giants if it doesn't come down to money? The Giants made it clear that they're willing to chase top talent this winter, offering Aaron Judge a record contract and agreeing to terms with Carlos Correa. There's no reason why they won't continue to go after top talent in future offseasons, but it will largely have to come down to money. The SF Giants far outbid the competition for Correa, and they'd likely have to do the same for other top talent.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Somehow it's a bit controversial, but San Francisco Giants manager reiterated what should be clear: Joey Bart has not done enough yet to be the presumptive No. 1 catcher heading into 2023. Bart's struggles at the plate (and occasionally behind it) have been well documented. There's been too much swing and miss, too many strikeouts. Bart enters camp in a pure competition with Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol and non-roster options Roberto Pérez and Austin Wynns.David Villar, meanwhile, showed enough in 2022 to warrant being the presumptive favorite to start the season at third base. Villar generally has some of Bart's same issues, but Bart takes those issues a bit further into unacceptable territory (e.g., Bart had a 38.5 K% in 2022, compared to 32% for Villar). Villar dominated in Double-A in 2021 and Triple-A in 2022, and showed an ability to adjust to some early struggles in the majors. Bart had a hot August but came crashing down in September; Villar finished strong with a great September/October.The Giants provided some injury updates yesterday, and the headliner was that top prospect Marco Luciano sustained a lower back stress fracture during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Luciano missed a bunch of time during the minor league season with a low back strain, and the fracture was an aggravation of the issue. The SF Giants are hopeful that Luciano fully recovers and is a full go for the upcoming season, but back injuries are never something you want to see from a top prospect.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The football season is over, and that means one thing: It's time for baseball! San Francsico Giants pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this week, and the games will be underway about a week after that. At this point in spring, it's worth taking an initial crack at the SF Giants' Opening Day roster.There's one position that is very unsettled and opinions about it may even be controversial. Joey Bart was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018, but his time in the majors has been largely disappointing thus far. Bart struggled with strikeouts in 2022, so much so that he was sent down after a couple of months last year. When Bart was called back up, he appeared to have made significant progress in the contact department. However, he was back to his high strikeout ways again by the end of the year. So the hot take is that Bart starts the year in the Minors and Roberto Pérez and Blake Sabol (a Rule 5 pick who must make the roster or be offered back to the Pirates) crack the Opening Day roster instead.The Giants also have some instability at first and third. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores figure to platoon at first, and David Villar projects to get a real opportunity to start the season as the starting third baseman. Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford figure to be near-everyday options up the middle.In the outfield, newcomers Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto are projected to man the corners pretty much every day, with Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater patrolling center. Joc Pederson and J.D. Davis figure to platoon at the DH spot. The Giants' defense appears improved to the point of being at least about average, which would be a big upgrade over last year's disaster. And they figure to have above-average offense up and down their lineup, with the exception of perhaps the catcher position.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Eno and DVR discuss several endgame hitters of interest for those playing in deeper leagues in 2023. Rundown0:38 Aaron Ashby Shoulder Fatigue, Behind Brewers' Other Pitchers4:36 DL Hall Entering Spring as a Starter9:16 A.J. Puk Stretching Out This Spring14:42 Will Benson Traded to Cincinnati22:32 Adam Frazier, Good Deep League Oatmeal?27:04 Opportunity in LA: Trayce Thompson v. James Outman29:13 Nolan Jones' Role in Colorado32:02 The Late, Late Rays (Jonathan Aranda, Kyle Manzardo, Curtis Mead, Josh Lowe & Vidal Bruján)45:17 Brice Turang and Surprising 2022 Power49:30 David Villar v. J.D. Davis58:30 Scouring the Nats' Depth Chart for Bargains1:01:26 Aaron Hicks & David Peralta1:11:50 Conner Capel's Opportunity in OaklandFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRipere-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comSubscribe to The Athletic at $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsSubscribe to the Rates & Barrels YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno and DVR discuss several endgame hitters of interest for those playing in deeper leagues in 2023.  Rundown 0:38 Aaron Ashby Shoulder Fatigue, Behind Brewers' Other Pitchers 4:36 DL Hall Entering Spring as a Starter 9:16 A.J. Puk Stretching Out This Spring 14:42 Will Benson Traded to Cincinnati 22:32 Adam Frazier, Good Deep League Oatmeal? 27:04 Opportunity in LA: Trayce Thompson v. James Outman 29:13 Nolan Jones' Role in Colorado 32:02 The Late, Late Rays (Jonathan Aranda, Kyle Manzardo, Curtis Mead, Josh Lowe & Vidal Bruján) 45:17 Brice Turang and Surprising 2022 Power 49:30 David Villar v. J.D. Davis 58:30 Scouring the Nats' Depth Chart for Bargains 1:01:26 Aaron Hicks & David Peralta 1:11:50 Conner Capel's Opportunity in Oakland Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Subscribe to The Athletic at $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Subscribe to the Rates & Barrels YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ironically, despite all the negativity surrounding the Giants this offseason, they come in with a rosy record projection, according to ZiPS. The popular projection system projects the SF Giants to win 88 games and make the postseason as the final team in the NL. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the Giants are projected to finish only a few wins beneath the Dodgers and the Padres, who each have 91-win projections. Those teams appear to have higher ceilings than the San Francisco Giants, but they also have far less depth to cover bad and unexpected scenarios.Logan Webb was a surprising omission from the Team USA World Baseball Classic roster, which was announced last evening. Webb had agreed to participate in the tournament earlier this offseason, so it was surprising to see his name left off of the official roster for Team USA. Webb is an extension candidate this offseason (even though he's under team control through 2025), so perhaps the Giants wanted him to put off him plans to play in the WBC while they're negotiating a long-term deal.Why didn't the SF Giants upgrade their infield defense this winter? The outfield was much more of a problem than the infield defensively in 2022. And even in the infield, where the Giants ranked 21st with -7 Outs Above Average, they got a combined -12 from Brandon Belt (-4), Tommy La Stella (-4), and Donovan Walton (-4). Their projected starters, Brandon Crawford (+7), Thairo Estrada (+3), LaMonte Wade Jr. (+2), and David Villar (-1) combined for +11 Outs Above Average in 2022. So the short answer is that their infield defense might not really be a huge problem and that's why they didn't make huge efforts to improve it.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Shohei Ohtani to the San Francisco Giants? It's never too early to start speculating. The SF Giants clearly prioritized signing a superstar this offseason, and while it didn't work out (for some insane reasons), there's no reason to think the Giants won't try again next year. Ohtani is far and away the biggest name available next winter, but Manny Machado should also be out there since he can opt out of the remaining five years and $150 million left on his contract, which would be an easy decision if he has a typical Manny Machado season.Why did the Giants' farm system take such a big hit in some rankings this year? So much of the SF Giants' future will depend on successfully developing their own talent, so the Giants' drop in public rankings seems like cause for concern. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are subjective and that they can change year to year. Last year, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Giants' farm system second. This year, Keith Law ranked the Giants' system 18th. Did that much really change, or was it just a down year for some key guys?How can the San Francisco Giants quell some of the frustration coming from the fanbase? Making the playoffs will be important, as will having some young players find success in the majors in 2023. Kyle Harrison has a chance to be special and figures to debut early in 2023. The Giants also have young players like David Villar, Casey Schmitt, R.J. Dabovich, and Cole Waites who could impact the team this year. If some of those players have legitimately good seasons, and the Giants make the playoffs and win at least one round, the fans should be feeling a lot better about the team's future.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper are joined by Giants third baseman David Villar to discuss the success he saw toward the end of the 2022 season, where he wants to improve his game the most and the team's eventful offseason. Plus, Alex and Cole share their offseason awards and answer some fan questions.(3:51) Best Giants move of the offseason(9:43) Who won the offseason?(16:06) How can Giants improve on free agency?(22:46) Grading the Giants' offseason(30:15) Why didn't the Giants extend Webb?(41:13) Villar on where he wants to improve(47:55) Villar shares his thoughts on the Giants' offseasonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.