Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

The San Francisco Giants had an unforgettable offseason in the worst kind of way, with high profile misses on Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. The Giants, of course, had agreed to terms with Correa on a 13-year deal before it all fell apart over medical concerns following his physical. Despite this seemingly like the definite time to do so, the Giants did not sign a superstar over the offseason. They did, however, make several solid moves. Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto join the outfield rotation and address a couple of issues simultaneously. They push lesser defenders like Joc Pederson out of the outfield mix, and they also infuse some offense into a lineup that was quietly above average at scoring runs last year. The SF Giants didn't really have any major subtractions on the position player side (Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria found new teams, but neither contributed much in 2022), so Haniger and Conforto are straight up additions, not replacements. The Giants' issue in 2022 was run prevention, specifically caused by bad defense and an unreliable bullpen. Carlos Rodón joined Kevin Gausman in departing after an elite season, and the Giants replaced him with Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea. They're also getting Anthony DeSclafani back after he missed almost all of 2022 with an ankle injury. In the bullpen, the Giants' starting pitching depth bleeds over, and they also signed Taylor Rogers and Luke Jackson. Overall, the Giants look like a team that is on the fringe of the playoff picture, projected to have a win total somewhere around the mid-80s. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

Depth has been a focus for the San Francisco Giants since Farhan Zaidi took over, but they're looking a little thin in the outfield as the season approaches. Mitch Haniger (oblique) and Austin Slater (hamstring) are questionable for Opening Day, which is just over a week away in New York. What are the Giants' plans in the event that either or both has to miss time? Some fallback options would've included the likes of Luis González and Stephen Piscotty, but both are banged up as well. González recently had back surgery, and Piscotty has an oblique issue of his own. The SF Giants could put Joc Pederson or LaMonte Wade Jr. in the outfield, but that would create its own problems because they'd need to be platooned and there aren't any right-handed hitters to put in the outfield if Haniger and Slater are out. Ultimately, someone like Bryce Johnson may end up making the Giants' roster if there are injuries in the outfield. Johnson is the type of guy the Giants could simply stick in center field, appreciate his defense and baserunning, and take what they can get out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup. With the 2023 season not even here yet, we're already seeing the Giants' depth tested and it's not entirely clear where they'll turn. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

There's only one week left to decide. The San Francisco Giants play their final exhibition game a week from today, and the catcher position remains a great unknown. Blake Sabol has had a terrific spring, but has he done enough to stick on the SF Giants' roster and be in that Opening Day lineup in New York against Gerrit Cole? Is there really a chance Joey Bart could not make the Opening Day roster? Bart's struggles in the majors thus far have been well documented, but he is not far removed from being considered one of the game's best prospects. However, he can be optioned to the Minor Leagues, whereas Sabol has to make the team or be offered back to the Pirates. That gives Sabol an edge. Roberto Pérez seems likely to make the Giants' roster because of his experience and reputation as an excellent defender and leader. The recent WBC games are discussed. The United States has advanced to the championship game after winning big over Cuba, but the finals figure to present far more of a challenge. Both Mexico and Japan have far more talented teams than Cuba, and the US will have its hands full. Jose Altuve's injury and Trea Turner's heroics are discussed. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

Who doesn't love a little nostalgia? In what's sure to be a widely popular move, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly signing legendary reliever Sergio Romo to a non-roster deal and will give him the chance to pitch in front of the home fans one more time. The SF Giants play the Oakland A's in an exhibition game on March 27 at Oracle Park, and Romo is expected to appear one last time in the orange and black. Romo was legitimately one of the best relievers in baseball during his Giants career. Thanks to a devastating slider that hitters simply couldn't recognize out of his hand, Romo boasted a superb 2.58 ERA in 515 games with the San Francisco Giants from 2008 through 2016. From a former great reliever to a current great reliever: Camilo Doval made an awesome appearance in the WBC yesterday. His development is discussed, particularly how the sinker he started throwing in July completely unlocked his arsenal. Just 25 years old and under club control through 2027, Doval is a huge bright spot for the SF Giants now and moving forward. The Mets weren't so fortunate with their excellent closer, as Edwin Diaz was injured while celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. He will likely miss the season. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

The San Francisco Giants' decision to let Kevin Gausman depart in free agency wasn't particularly popular, and didn't look great in hindsight after Gausman had another really good season in 2022 and the Giants stumbled to a .500 season. That didn't stop them, however, from letting the same thing happen with Carlos Rodón after the lefty pitched like a Cy Young candidate for the SF Giants in 2022. Is the Giants' strategy the right one? Should they make more of an effort to retain these pitchers long term? The simple fact is that long-term deals for starting pitchers often age poorly. There are countless examples across the sport. And the Giants have had a lot of success in finding talents like Gausman and Rodón before they achieve peak value in a Giants uniform. So they trust their ability to keep doing this, and it's hard to argue with them. It's not like locking these guys in for the long haul will necessarily yield positive results. History suggests that such a move has a somewhat high chance of backfiring in a major way. Which Giants pitcher is most expendable should Kyle Harrison prove he's ready for the majors? The SF Giants have so many starting pitchers; how would they create room if Harrison is ready and no one is injured? If the San Francisco Giants are in contention at the trading deadline, will they be more aggressive in bringing in impact talent after the way last offseason unfolded and the fan frustration that followed? Shohei Ohtani very well might be available... Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

In just over two weeks, the San Francisco Giants will send Logan Webb to the Yankee Stadium mound to make his second straight Opening Day start. It's been quite the rise for the 26-year-old Webb, who put up an ERA over 5.00 in his first two big league seasons. Over the last two years, Webb has established himself as a Top 20 starter in the game. Alex Cobb, who's FIP ranks in the top 10 over the last two years as well, will make the Giants' second start. In other news, Casey Schmitt continued his hot spring with a homer and a triple yesterday. He needs more upper minors seasoning (he's only played 33 games above A-ball), but if he hits well in Triple-A, he could be a major factor in the big leagues in 2023. Blake Sabol started in the outfield for the first time all spring, which is significant given the oblique injury to Mitch Haniger. Other Giants who've been impressive lately: Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada, and Bryce Johnson. Luis González, who was a bright spot in the early part of 2022, was derailed by a nagging back issue and will undergo surgery today. The SF Giants are hopeful that he can finally put the issue behind him after the 16-week recovery time. Sam Long, who was a longshot candidate to make the Opening Day bullpen, was optioned yesterday, and R.J. Dabovich was reassigned to Minor League camp. The Giants have 12 pitchers essentially set in stone, so one spot is up for grabs. It could go to Sean Hjelle, who's been impressive in camp, or the San Francisco Giants might opt for an extra position player on the initial roster. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Ultimate Pro Baseball GM To 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 Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB. 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

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.  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

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.  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

The 2023 World Baseball Classic promises to be riveting. Team USA is stacked with talent, and the San Francisco Giants will scrimmage against them in a televised game tonight. Logan Webb was supposed to be on Team USA but withdrew, but that doesn't mean SF Giants fans have nothing to look forward to in this year's installment of the WBC. After catching the Giants vs. Team USA game tonight, Giants fans can check out another of other teams to find past and present players and coaches. The Netherlands team, which won its first game last night, features Hensley Muelens as its manager, Chadwick Tromp as its catcher, and Franklin Van Gurp as one of its relievers. Camilo Doval is on an absolutely stacked Dominican team, and Joc Pederson will suit up for Team Israel. Former Giant Alex Dickerson is also on that team with Joc. Mark DeRosa will manage Team USA, and there are several other SF Giants farmhands littered throughout the tournament. It's going to be a fun two weeks with daily games. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.  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

Mike Yastrzemski is an underrated defender. According to pretty much all defensive metrics—and the "eye test"—the SF Giants' outfielder is above average in both the corners and in center field. The Giants went into the offseason targeting strong defensive center fielders, hoping to move Yastrzemski back to right, where he profiles best, but ultimately the ended up with two corner guys in Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger. However, Yaz should be able to handle center field just fine. Slater, however, graded out rather poorly in center in 2022, so it'll be worthwhile to follow his progress there in the upcoming season. It's time to talk attendance again. In 2022, the Giants had their lowest attendance numbers since Oracle Park opened in 2000. What will get fans back out to the park? One thing that's important to keep in mind is that league-wide attendance has been down. Compared to 2019, the last full season without attendance restrictions, league attendance was down 6%. And the Giants were down 8%. So not much more than normal. Can Patrick Bailey raise his stock this spring and even surpass Joey Bart on the depth chart? He's probably not there yet, given that he's only made it as far as High-A Eugene, but eventually Bailey could certainly emerge as the SF Giants' catcher of the future. This front office didn't draft Bart, and may not have if given the opportunity. Bailey, on the other hand, fits their preferred offensive profile better, and won a Minor League Gold Glove behind the plate in 2022. The 2020 first-round pick is definitely someone to monitor in 2023 and beyond. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.  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

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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make 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. LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONMLB.  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

San Francisco Giants fans already have to worry about the Dodgers and Padres in a tough NL West, but don't sleep on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs are brimming with young talent, giving them the potential to exceed expectations in 2023 and perhaps become a problem for the foreseeable future. Evan Longoria is switching sides, and his status is the first topic discussed on today's crossover between Locked On Giants and Locked On D-backs. The SF Giants were clearly big game hunting this winter, but came away empty handed when it comes to superstars. But what should we expect from them next winter? Clearly, when elite talent is out there, the Giants are interested. They pursued Bryce Harper in 2018-19. They went after Aaron Judge and had an agreement with Carlos Correa this past offseason. Will they be the team that comes away with Shohei Ohtani next winter? Finally, the Giants and D-backs are directly compared. Which team has the higher floor? Which team has the higher ceiling? Neither host will back down from the belief that their team is better, but both respect that the D-backs are underrated and have the potential to be much better than people seem to think. The Giants, meanwhile, might not have the highest ceiling in the world (although 2021 should teach us never to assume we know a team's ceiling), but they seem to have one of the highest floors in the league. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The San Francsico Giants' offseason was anything but boring. The Giants missed out on Aaron Judge despite fans thinking they were getting him for about seven minutes. They missed out on Carlos Correa after fans thought they were getting him for seven days. Yes, the SF Giants failed to land a superstar despite it seeming like they would finally get one. But that doesn't mean the Giants' offseason was a complete and utter disaster. How much do Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Ross Stripling, Sean Manaea, Taylor Rogers, and Luke Jackson move the needle? The Giants made several quality additions, about as good as they could do without signing any star talent. But—fans wanted and deserved star talent. Which of the SF Giants' additions provides the most upside? The SF Giants' tendency to not re-sign aces like Kevin Gausman and Carlos Rodón is explored. Two years in a row, the Giants have let an ace pitcher depart in free agency, seemingly without making competitive offers (or offers at all). The Giants have had quite a bit of success getting good results from their starters without taking on the risk of a long-term commitment. Pitchers' track records are not very good over the life of a lot of long-term deals. Some of those deals are explored in detail on the show. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joey Bart had a great day at the plate on Tuesday, hitting a double and launching a home run. It's tempting to look at such a performance and think that it means something about his chances of earning the role of primary catcher in 2023. But doing so is unwise. Bart has dominated at the plate each and every year in major league camp, and so far that success hasn't translated to the MLB level. This is not to say that Bart can't or won't do well this season, but it is to say that Spring Training statistics are not a reliable indicator of whether or not a player will succeed in the big leagues. Switching gears, Manny Machado's new deal with the Padres is discussed. Machado was believed to be one of the best fits for the SF Giants in free agency next winter if they're still looking to make a big splash, but now we can officially cross his name off the list. Machado and the Padres agreed to a new 11-year, $350 million deal. Machado would've had the right to opt out of 5/$150M after the 2023 season. On first glance, this looks like a potentially large overpay for Machado, who will turn 31 in July. The Padres figure to give the Giants fits for the next couple of years, when Machado, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and others will be under contract. But much beyond that, it's not hard to see things getting a little weird in San Diego, with Machado and Darvish signed into their 40s and Darvish already getting close to that number. Machado's deal may also take the Padres out of the running for Soto once he becomes a free agent in two years. In other NL West news, Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux will miss the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in a spring game. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit 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: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Casey Schmitt the San Francisco Giants' third baseman of the future? It wasn't hard to see his promise in the SF Giants' spring opener on Saturday. Schmitt made a highlight-reel play at third and hit a monster home run to left in the Giants' loss. Blake Sabol also showed off why the Giants are high on his bat, delivering a rocket home run to dead center field. Sean Manaea made his first Giants appearance on Sunday, and he was throwing 93-96 mph. According to Manaea, that's up from 88-90 at this time last year. The SF Giants have a great reputation for getting the most out of pitchers in recent years, and last year it was Alex Cobb who added a bunch of velocity. Hopefully this is the first clue that Manaea will have a nice bounceback season in 2023. Was Donovan Walton for Prelander Berroa really the "worst trade of 2022"? One AL scout thinks so, but it's too early to tell. Those who criticize the Giants' trade for Walton are comparing Walton's major-league stats/performance to Berroa's minor league stats/performance. Walton was very successful in the minors, so let's wait and see how Berroa performs at the highest level. He still has major command issues and probably profiles as a reliever. Strikeout relievers with command problems are not exactly the rarest commodity. And Walton continues to have good projections. The jury's still out on this one. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Logan Webb the only San Francisco Giants player who's one of the Top 100 players in MLB? According to MLB Network, yes. But these kinds of rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, since player evaluations can fluctuate wildly year to year. Coming off their 107-win season in 2021, the Giants would've had several more names appear in such a list. Even this year, guys like Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger could easily belong on such a list but it'd be hard to justify putting them in coming off so much missed time due to injuries. Alex Cobb, Thairo Estrada, and Camilo Doval also have cases to be on this list but were snubbed. Could the SF Giants pursue Manny Machado as a shortstop next offseason? Brandon Crawford is entering the last year of his contract, and the Giants need a star. Machado obviously fits the Giants, but would they offer him the chance to play short? Probably not, since he's graded out as a below-average defender there in his career, but it's an interesting thought. And what about Shohei Ohtani? The Giants might be hesitant to give a huge contract to someone who's primarily a pitcher (in terms of his value), but could they view him as an outfielder if his arm ever has a problem in the midst of a 10-plus-year deal? Probably so. What are some realistic floors and ceilings for the new guys on the team? Conforto, Haniger, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, and Taylor Rogers' outlooks are analyzed at length. And lastly, which San Francisco Giants hitter has the most aesthetically pleasing swing? It's pretty clearly one of the new guys... Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U 🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN 🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr 🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg 🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick #SFGiants #FirstListen Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Built Bar Built 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. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices