Podcast appearances and mentions of Nick Ahmed

On "Giants Talk," co-hosts Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper discuss Willy Adames finally getting his break out game as a Giant and how the team bounced back against the Colorado Rockies after a disappointing loss to open the series.2:15 – Kyle Harrison called up, Lou Trivino DFA'd5:00 – Giants lose series opener to Rockies but bounce back and win the next two games10:00 – Willy Adames finally has a breakout game Sunday12:00 – Giants need Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Patrick Bailey and LaMonte Wade Jr. to find a rhythm13:45 – Waiting for Luis Matos to power up15:15 – Robbie Ray throws seven no hit innings16:30 – Tyler Fitzgerald out with cracked rib18:00 – Nick Ahmed hits open market20:00 – Donnie Ecker fired by Rangers24:00 – Update on Wade Meckler25:30 – Previewing Giants matchup vs. Cubs32:00 – Food recommendations in Chicago

Nick Ahmed hit a grand Slam in the 5th inning Wednesday as the Rangers beat the Reds 5-3 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

Ben & Woods kick off the 7am talking about the rapid Padres fanbase as they set the Petco Park all-time attendance record this season, and we discuss Saturday night's win over the White Sox. Then we get to "Don't (And DO) Do This" before we get to Friday night's extra-inning win the Padres adding infielder Nick Ahmed to the roster yesterday. Listen here!

In this episode of Sports the NEMO Way we bring the best of the Arizona Diamondbacks to the table for discussion. 

DV catches with the newest Dodger and yesterday's hero before the Dodgers start a 3-game series in Houston. 

A late start after the Dodgers 6-4 win over the Giants. Launching Pad with VTB and listener Izzy from Anaheim after a dramatic Dodgers win that included Nick Ahmed and Shohei Ohtani back to back homeruns. Not Sports Report.

Hour 1: Murph and Markus give their instant reaction to Nick Ahmed's go-ahead homerun to help beat the Giants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Hit: Did Nick Ahmed just end the Giants season? Murph & Markus debate if the Giants need to make big changes and trade some of the players who have value.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: Murph and Markus give their instant reaction to Nick Ahmed's go-ahead homerun to help beat the Giants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Hit: Did Nick Ahmed just end the Giants season? Murph & Markus debate if the Giants need to make big changes and trade some of the players who have value.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willard and Dibs react to perhaps the most embarrassing loss of the Giants season: Nick Ahmed, former Giant, hitting a go-ahead homer in the 8th inning to lead to the Dodgers to another win.

It was a busy day for Dodgers news and rumors! Today in an emergency stream, we're talking about the injury to Miguel Rojas and the Dodgers signing veteran infielder Nick Ahmed. Plus the latest from the trade deadline rumor mill on Randy Arozarena, Garrett Crochet, and more! PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING ON PATREON! ➡️ patreon.com/realFRG Or support on YouTube Members! ➡️ youtube.com/@alldodgers/join

The Giants are finally younger and more athletic. It only took half a season. In this mid-week review our modernists discuss the departures of Austin Slater and Nick Ahmed, what it means for Luis Matos, Brett Wisely, and Tyler Fitzgerald. They also rejoice in the first good game from Mr. Second Half, Blake Snell.In the lightning round Ben talks to his food, Matthew makes drunken trade suggestions, and they irrationally predict the All-Star game.On the cocktail side of things Ben phones it in with a Coke & Rye while Matthew presents an original the Giant Splash. Recipes below.Coke & RyeCoca-Cola or some other cane sugar cola100 proof Rye WhiskeyAll of your gumptionFill a highball with ice, add as much rye as your gumption will allow, top with cola.Splash Hit2 oz Aquavit1 oz Cinnamon Simple Syrup1/2 oz Lemon Juice1/2 oz Cointreau

Mike Krukow joined Murph & Markus this morning to share his thoughts on Blake Snell's strong outing after coming off the IL and to discuss the impact of the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Baggarly joined Murph & Markus this morning to discuss the fallout from the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed and to provide a health update on both Robbie Ray & Alex Cobb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: Murph & Markus react to the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed to give more opportunities to young players and share their thoughts on the walk off win last night.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1: Murph & Markus react to the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed to give more opportunities to young players and share their thoughts on the walk off win last night.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Krukow joined Murph & Markus this morning to share his thoughts on Blake Snell's strong outing after coming off the IL and to discuss the impact of the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Baggarly joined Murph & Markus this morning to discuss the fallout from the Giants releasing Nick Ahmed and to provide a health update on both Robbie Ray & Alex Cobb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the trade of Austin Slater to the Reds and the DFAing of Nick Ahmed, Farhan Zaidi made the message clear: it is the young guys time on the Giants. Is this a good thing, or a sign that the Giants are not as all in on making the playoffs? Download the Audacy app to never miss any of your favorite 957 The Game content: https://go.audacy.com/y-listen-live-957thegame

Tyler Fitzgerald, who was one of the heroes in last night's walk-off Giants win, joins Willard and Dibs to break down the win, his spot with the big club now that Nick Ahmed got DFA'd, and more.

Willard and Dibs react to the news that the San Francisco Giants have designated Nick Ahmed for assignment. What does this mean for Brett Wisely, Tyler Fitzgerald, and Marco Luciano?

In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs get updated on injuries from around the Bay with Dr. Pandya, plead with the Warriors to take a major swing, chat with Nick Ahmed about his homer last night, and wonder when Blake Snell will return from his latest IL stint.

San Francisco Giants shortstop Nick Ahmed joins Willard and Dibs fresh off his first homer as a member of the Giants, which helped the Giants to a win on the night they honored the late, great Willie Mays. He talks about the team fighting through their injuries, his thoughts about the organization and ballpark before he became a Giant, and more.

Willard and Dibs' full show from Tuesday, June 25th. In Hour 1, Willard and Dibs wonder why Warriors fans are so worried about the future of the Warriors years down the road as opposed to the right now and plead with the front office to just take one last swing at competing with this core. In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs hear from Bobby Marks from earlier today on the Morning Roast about the Warriors' options this offseason, wonder if the Warriors are deciding between Klay Thompson or the chance at some other star, and more.In Hour 3, Willard and Dibs get updated on injuries from around the Bay with Dr. Pandya, plead with the Warriors to take a major swing, chat with Nick Ahmed about his homer last night, and wonder when Blake Snell will return from his latest IL stint.In Hour 4, Willard and Dibs debate if the Warriors should swing for a star, stand pat and run it back, or hand the keys over to their youngsters. What should the Warriors do? Plus, where were you on this day 15 years ago?

MLB veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed went from being a college walk-on to playing over ten years in the big leagues. The 2X Gold Glove winner shares tactical strategies on how to get better and reach your goals from his program called 7 Pillar Health & Performance. You will get better in at least one area of your life after listening to this episode featuring Ahmed on Keep Swinging with Matt Stucko.

Jorge Soler is back! Nick Ahmed must go! And How good is the Giants farm system really? Shasky and Lubman decide whether certain Giants tasks are an over reaction or an under reaction. 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

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper discuss Camilo Doval's late-game struggles and whether Bob Melvin should have thrown the Giants closer in with a 13-2 lead heading into the ninth inning against the Angels on Sunday. Plus, Alex and Cole break down Brett Wisely's future and Spencer Bivens' unique path to the majors.(0:50) Giants-Angels retrospective(7:45) Can Jorge Soler get it going after a big home run on Sunday?(14:30) Making sense of Doval's late-game struggles(20:50) Bivens' MLB debut(28:05) Wisely's future role with the Giants amidst Nick Ahmed's return(30:10) Giants-Cubs lookaheadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Giants Beat Writer for The Athletic Andrew Baggarly joins Papa & Lund and discusses what Brett Wisely's role will be with the club with the return of  Nick AhmedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Giants Beat Writer for The Athletic Andrew Baggarly joins Papa & Lund and discusses what Brett Wisely's role will be with the club with the return of  Nick AhmedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it a good sign or a bad sign when Brett Wisely is your top hitter? Asking for a friend. Today the boys ask if Brett Wisely is taking Nick Ahmed's job, discuss the current state of the offense, and Ben goes to the optometrist. Also in the lightning round they go on a fishing expedition, call out Farhan on a Spring fib, and start and finish the Giant's All-Star discussion.On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking an All Keyed Up while Matthew is enjoying a Yerba Buena. Recipes below.All Keyed Up2 oz White Rum1 oz Apricot Liqueur1 oz Passion Fruit Liqueur3/4 oz Key Lime Juice4 oz Pineapple JuiceCombine rum, liqueurs and key lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a highball with ice. Top with pineapple juice.Yerba Buena2 oz Reposado TequilaLime Juice of one lime1/4 oz Agave Nectar8 mint leavesGinger beer, chilled, to topGarnish: Mint Sprig and/or lime wheel

In Hour 2, Willard and Dibs discuss a surprising factoid about the NBA postseason, wonder what happens to Marco Luciano when Nick Ahmed gets healthy, celebrate how Giants fans suddenly have a reason to be excited, and more.

Willard and Dibs wonder what happens to the Giants youngsters when their injured veteran counterparts get healthy. Specifically with Marco Luciano, is the shortstop spot his for the indefinite future even when Nick Ahmed gets healthy?

In Hour 2 of Willard & Dibs, Marc Grandi & Dan Dibley discuss the Warriors' future and their best possible course of action to get back on the level of the best teams in the NBA? What does it mean to "maximize the Steph Curry window"? PLUS the Giants call up Casey Schmitt to take Nick Ahmed's spot on the roster as he's placed on the IL. Marco Luciano remains in the minors.

Today's win in Boston was huge for the San Francisco Giants. After losing the first two games of the series, the Giants needed a win to avoid a sweep to begin this 10-game road trip, and Kyle Harrison, the bullpen, and the SF Giants' defense delivered. Ryan Walker, Erik Miller, Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval each gave the Giants clean, stress-free innings. Jung Hoo Lee and Nick Ahmed made sensational plays.And SF Giants rookie Kyle Harrison continued to establish himself as a reliable force, dare we say, in the middle of the Giants' rotation. Harrison worked his way into and out of trouble. He walked five but struck out seven, and the 22-year-old has an ERA of 3.79 on the season. Logan Webb, Harrison, Keaton Winn, and Jordan Hicks have all been real positives for the Giants in 2024, and each is under team control for 4-6 seasons.League average offense is down, and it's worth pointing out in the context of the San Francisco Giants' offense. The league average batting average entering today? It was .239—exactly the same as the Giants' .239 batting average entering play. It's critical to know what league average is before we can make any effort to evaluate a team or a player (and batting average is far from the most important offensive statistic anyway). Lee's unlucky season—which continued today with a crushed ball to center being caught—is also discussed.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants started off the homestand the right way with a 5-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. Logan Webb was dominant on the mound, as he blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks over seven innings of work. Webb set a new career high, retiring 19 consecutive batters on his way to the win. Wilmer Flores and Mike Yastrzemski came up with huge hits late in this one to add on four insurance runs. Nick Ahmed had some nice moments in his revenge game against his former squad. Policygenius Check life insurance off your to do list in no time with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/lockedonmlb to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save. Monopoly GO! Get in the game and join your friends. Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Play. PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonmlb and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100!

The San Francisco Giants lose a frustrating one one the road to the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 2-1. Tyler Fitzgerald found himself on third base as the game-tying run with less than two outs in the ninth inning, but Jung Hoo Lee and Nick Ahmed both failed to drive him in. This was the story of the whole game for the San Francisco Giants, as they were 0-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine runners on base in the process. Giants baseball is back to being torture, for now. Ibotta Right now, Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 just for trying Ibotta by using the code LOCKEDONMLB when you download the app. FanDuel FanDuel, America's Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARENTEED That's A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – win or lose! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. 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)

Carmen Kiew talkin' ball on Talkin' Baseball with Marty and Carmen interviews Nick AhmedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The San Francisco Giants have generally struggled out of the gates, although they've had their moments. Several veteran players have yet to hit their stride at the plate, and multiple pitchers, including staff ace Logan Webb, haven't found their normal performance yet. Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater are often brought up as candidates to come off the team in order to make room for younger players like Luis Matos and/or Heliot Ramos. How long is the leash for a struggling Yaz/Slater? And what about Nick Ahmed vs. Marco Luciano? Speaking of players not playing to their full potential, what's going on with Giants catcher Patrick Bailey? His throws have been wildly inaccurate in the early season. Is he still and elite defender? Finally, with SF Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks successfully transitioning to the rotation thus far, what will the Giants' pitching staff look like once/if everyone is fully healthy?Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

The San Francisco Giants continued to inexplicably struggle against the Washington Nationals in their latest series, losing two out of three at home. However, if you're going to win one game in a series, it's best to make it the last one—especially with a day off coming up. Jordan Hicks continued his red-hot start to the season, and his seamless transition to a starters' role. The SF Giants have won all three of Hicks' starts, and he's pitched six, seven, and six innings, respectively, in his outings. Hicks has been exceptionally efficient in those outings as well. And importantly, the Giants' offense broke out in the finale against the Nationals. Nick Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald were six for six from the bottom of the lineup, and the SF Giants also stole their first bases of the year in the game. This was in stark contrast to the Giants' recent offensive struggles, which came to a head with San Francisco failing to capitalized on a bases-loaded, no out situation in the bottom of the ninth in a two-run loss to the Nats on Tuesday night.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

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The San Francisco Giants fell to the Padres on Opening Day, but there were real positives to take away from the game. Logan Webb shook off a horrid spring and had a fantastic first start of the season, pitching six innings and allowing just two runs. The SF Giants' offense and defense flashed signs of life as well, with Matt Chapman, Nick Ahmed, and Thairo Estrada making impressive plays and Michael Conforto and Ahmed leading the way offensively.Unfortunately for the Giants, they let a seventh-inning lead slip away from them with a disastrous inning from Luke Jackson that included a throwing error by catcher Patrick Bailey. The SF Giants' one-run lead quickly became a three-run deficit, and that was basically all she wrote outside of Conforto's ninth-inning solo homer that pulled the Giants to within two runs.A number of players were making their Giants or MLB debuts, and for the most part so far so good. Jung Hoo Lee notched his first hit and hit a sac fly, although he was picked off immediately after singling. Erik Miller, a lefty reliever making his MLB debut, pitched an impressive eighth. Chapman was as advertised defensively and collected a hit, and Ahmed had a clutch hit as well. Now the Giants will turn to Kyle Harrison as they try to collect their first win of 2024, with Blake Snell unavailable for at least his first turn through the rotation. The SF Giants really ought to do their best to win a couple in San Diego, as things get tougher after that with a road series against the loaded rival Dodgers next.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Opening Day is finally here! The San Francisco Giants take on the Padres today in a game that really counts, and Logan Webb will be on the mound. That's no surprise, but it doesn't mean the SF Giants' official Opening Day roster didn't have a few surprises. Most surprisingly, perhaps, is the fact that Joey Bart made the team. Bart is out of options and can't be sent to the minors, so the Giants elected to carry him, along with their two main catchers Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy, rather than designating Bart for assignment. Pretty soon the Giants will have to make a move because they can't carry three catchers (and 14 position players) for long.Other noteworthy decisions included the fact that Nick Ahmed made the Giants and was added to the roster. He's in the Opening Day lineup and playing shortstop. Marco Luciano was optioned to Sacramento. Luis Matos was more of a snub, as he was also optioned by the SF Giants with Austin Slater apparently healthy enough to start the season. This move will be unpopular with some fans, but rest assured that Matos and Luciano should get tons of opportunities this year and the Giants are by no means giving up on either one. It's all about protecting inventory in this case, and Slater and Yastrzemski are underrated big leaguers.On the pitching side, a few players will be making their major league debuts if they get into a game. Left-handed reliever Erik Miller joins the Giants' staff as the second lefty in the 'pen after Taylor Rogers. Landen Roupp also made the Giants thanks to a killer breaking ball that could make him a real weapon. Blake Snell is on the roster even though he won't start in the Giants' series against the Padres. And Michael Conforto is starting in left, becoming the SF Giants' 18th consecutive different Opening Day left fielder, with a 19th likely next year.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Senior writer for The Athletic, who covers the SF Giants, Andrew Baggarly tells Murph & Markus that he thinks the Giants should keep Marco Luciano & Nick Ahmed on the opening day roster because if Luciano wins rookie of the year then the Giants receive an extra draft pick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senior writer for The Athletic, who covers the SF Giants, Andrew Baggarly tells Murph & Markus that he thinks the Giants should keep Marco Luciano & Nick Ahmed on the opening day roster because if Luciano wins rookie of the year then the Giants receive an extra draft pick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The San Francisco Giants' 2024 season kicks off this Thursday, yet there are still several burning questions ahead of Opening Day. Most notably, perhaps, is the question of whether Nick Ahmed or Marco Luciano will crack the roster as the Opening Day shortstop for the Giants. Ahmed has been great for the SF Giants all spring, but Luciano has come on very strong as camp has wound down. The Giants could add Ahmed to the roster and option Luciano. It's possible Ahmed could opt out of his SF Giants deal if he doesn't make the Opening Day squad. That might make optioning Luciano more likely, otherwise going with Luciano and having Ahmed in Triple-A could be appealing as well.Another key situation is what will happen with Luis Matos. Matos came into camp for the Giants having put on over 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, and he's had a torrid spring. A lot of fans understandably want Matos on the Opening Day team, but the Giants' outfield is crowded. Austin Slater's elbow, however, could open the door for Matos. Slater had surgery in October but has been limited this spring and has trouble bouncing back after games. If he can't start the season with the Giants, Matos will get a real shot right out of the gates (in a limited role to start).Finally, there are several open spots up for grabs on the pitching staff, particularly with Blake Snell, Alex Cobb, and Robbie Ray out to start the season. Snell and Cobb should be back not too long from now, but they won't start the season with the Giants. Juan Sanchez appears likely to make the team as the Giants' second lefty reliever. Keaton Winn, Mason Black, and Landen Roupp appear to be the most likely candidates to round out the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day pitching staff. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Papa & Lund Show - Hour 2 - Papa & Lund discuss if the Giants should lean toward Nick Ahmed or Marco Luciano at SS & discuss the 49ers plans for Brandon Aiyuk as John Lynch addressed it at the Owners meetings + Interview w/ Susan SlusserSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two rain-outs in two days—in Arizona?! Things are weird in the Cactus League and the San Francisco Giants' spring schedule has been victimized. Fans were also robbed of two rare televised SF Giants spring games. However, we did get to see two innings of Giants young lefty starter Kyle Harrison dominating the Dodgers' (admittedly 'B') lineup. The SF Giants' offense and defense also shined in the two-inning game. It's a bit of a stretch to say that the offense shined, given that they didn't collect a single hit, but almost every plate appearance was a grind and they really made Dodgers starter James Paxton work in the first after he got the first two outs. Jung Hoo Lee, Wilmer Flores,  Michael Conforto, Jorge Soler, and Matt Chapman were all selective and looked like tough outs. Nick Ahmed also saved a run on defense with a diving play, and he's looking more and more like the likely Opening Day shortstop, with Marco Luciano potentially ticketed for Triple-A.With the Giants' offense and defense looking significantly improved, there's a big elephant in the room. Yes, Kyle Harrison has ace upside. Yes, Logan Webb already is an ace. But in Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and whoever else is projected to round out the SF Giants' rotation, they seem to be missing a top-end veteran addition like Blake Snell. Alex Cobb is progressing well and is ahead of schedule, so that could play a role in the Giants' decision making, but adding the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for a team that otherwise looks ready to win now.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

Marco Luciano came into spring training as the San Francisco Giants' presumptive Opening Day shortstop. A couple of weeks into games and the thinking may start to be shifting. Luciano has struck out in over 50% of his plate appearances, which is a continuation of a high-strikeout tendency Luciano displayed in the SF Giants' Triple-A and major league levels in 2023. With veteran Gold Glove winner Nick Ahmed in camp, in addition to other shortstop options like Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt, and others, it's certainly possible that the Giant send Luciano to Triple-A to start the season where he can look to get hot and eventually claim a starting role in the majors. There's no reason for the Giants to rush the 22-year-old Marco Luciano.Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:What do you think Casey Schmitt's future looks like now with Matt Chapman signing and a logjam at SS? Do you think they'll keep him around for when/if Chapman opts out or is he on the trade table?How come Joey Bart hasn't been traded yet? Can the Giants package J.D. Davis and Bart and get something back? It would be nice to sign Blake Snell and then get Bart and Davis off the books.Any Pablo Sandoval sightings? Haven't heard of any AB'sWhat are we going to do about the pitching dilemma? We need to add two starters in my opinion. Snell/Jordan Montgomery and a starter via trade (Jesus Luzardo, Shane Bieber, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert)Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

One by one, the core of the greatest era in San Francisco Giants history is moving on. Brandon Crawford was the last man standing, but now his Giants tenure is all but officially over. Crawford is signing a major-league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, per multiple reports. The SF Giants were always extremely unlikely to re-sign Crawford after a couple of very disappointing seasons. He deserved more from the franchise than a minor league deal, but that's likely all they'd reasonably be willing to offer the franchise icon. The good news is that SF Giants fans will get at least one more chance to cheer for Crawford when the Cardinals come to Oracle Park this year. We at Locked On Giants wish Brandon Crawford nothing but the best as he continues his life and baseball journey.Speaking of deals for shortstops, the SF Giants signed Nick Ahmed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on what not-so-coincidentally was the same day Crawford agreed to terms with St. Louis. Ahmed, like Crawford, is known for his glove and not his bat (but Ahmed has historically been a worse hitter than Crawford). Ahmed, however, was able to be brought in on a minor league deal so it's a no-risk move that provides some veteran insurance in case Marco Luciano isn't able to seize the shortstop role. The signing doesn't preclude them from making a play for Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, or Jordan Montgomery.Switching gears, we learned that the Giants made a one-year, $14M offer to J.D. Martinez before they ultimately landed Jorge Soler for that same AAV over three years. There was initially a report that Martinez turned down the Giants because he simply "didn't want to play there," but other reporters set the record straight that Martinez was seeking $20M and the SF Giants considered that to be too pricey. The fact that the Giants' offer was exactly the same as Soler's in terms of 2024 salary further reinforces the notion that the Giants may be operating with a self-imposed salary cap of about $165M.Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: