The San Francisco Giants have not been dominant in quite some time, can they return to their old ways sooner than later?
Before the Los Angeles Dodgers began their run of dominance, the San Francisco Giants ruled baseball in the state of California and the nation at large; winning three World Series titles in a five-year span.
With Bruce Bochy at the helm and Buster Posey behind the plate, the Giants lifted The Commissioner's Trophy in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Now, Posey and Bochy serve the Giants in different roles, with Posey as president of baseball operations and Bochy returning as a special advisor.
The Giants have regressed since their stretch of dominance and have missed the playoffs four years in a row, bringing into question how desperate the club is to win. Recently, Bleacher Report listed San Francisco in its fringe contender tier on a list of how desperate each organization is to win; grouping the Giants with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals.
“Of this bunch, San Francisco surely feels the most strain after its big investments in Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers,” it wrote. “And with Robbie Ray entering the final year of his deal, the future of this rotation is questionable at best. “
“They've added Adrian Houser, but if they make another big investment in a Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez this winter, that would really announce their intention to overtake the Dodgers in the NL West.”
The Giants’ mediocrity success has not been for lack of spending. With the 12th highest payroll at $196 million, San Francisco may not be a top five spender, but it still outpaces several playoff teams. The front office has shown its willingness to acquire talent to contend (See the Devers trade in June); it simply has not translated to success on the field.
During the Winter Meetings, Posey made it clear that the front office remains patient.
“You know, for us last year, we signed [Willy] Adames right before the Winter Meetings and knew that was probably going to be our big move,” he said. “It's quiet as far as news; it’s certainly not quiet on the suite.”
“There's a lot of different ideas being thrown around amongst ourselves and then with other teams. I learned last year that you think you might have something and you don't, maybe you think you have something again and you don't; a lot of times you don't. So that's kind of the way things are.”
The Giants have the pieces and may look to add more, but will it equal success?