Team's ownership has purchased Curran Theater, an important piece of San Francisco history. Why not, though, spend that cash on some frontline players, like pitchers?
There's no doubt that the San Francisco Giants want to win and get back into the National League West Division conversation. But the team's ownership recently purchased one of the most historic theaters in San Francisco, which cost a pretty penny.
Could that money have been spent on some solid players, like maybe a pitcher or two for the starting rotation?
Longtime MLB executive Jim Bowden, who writes regularly for The Athletic, pointed out in his most recent analysis that the Giants' owners might have thought about using that money to help the team out.
"As was announced by the Giants president Larry Baer, the team’s ownership group has purchased the historic Curran Theatre in San Francisco from its longtime owner Carole Shorenstein Hays in a move to expand their overall business portfolio into the performing arts," Bowden wrote.
"The acquisition gives the Giants business group a new venue for hosting events and aligns with their strategy of leveraging assets," Bowden continued.
"However, if you’re going to invest in theaters, then why not invest in a top of the rotation arm to go along with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray rather than backfilling the rotation with Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser?" the article indicated.
"I’m happy the Giants group has acquired the Curran but would be more happy for their fans if they invested in Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez to give them a better shot to win the NL West or secure a wild-card berth," Bowden concluded.
When Giants fans watch their team struggle to have solid starters in the rotation this season, some of them may look at this moment and wonder, "Why?"
As in, why not get another solid arm for the rotation? Why did ownership, which has the right to do what it chooses, decide to choose a historic theater to infuse its money toward getting?
Giants manager Tony Vitello will enter into his first spring training as an MLB manager in a month. What he sees in his pitching rotation is what he'll have to work with this season.
That is, unless the Giants decide to find some extra money somewhere and sign a big-name free agent starter.
Making this move might make sense for the Giants' ownership from a financial and historic standpoint. San Francisco is a city filled with history, so wanting to maintain a historic landmark makes sense.
Let's see, though, if this move harms the Giants down the road.
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