With the San Francisco Giants trying to get back into the National League West Division conversation this season, did they make enough offseason moves?

The Giants' starting rotation is anchored by Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Still, getting another veteran arm could have helped solidify it even further. The ballclub obviously was not interested in keeping Justin Verlander, who eventually signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers.

One arm, though, that was out on the free agent market was Max Scherzer, who last pitched in the 2025 MLB season for the Toronto Blue Jays.

That was one key question raised by MLB reporter Brandon Doolittle for ESPN.com.

Doolittle used some data points to have the Giants land in the No. 17 spot. Throughout the season, ESPN.com will keep track of teams' performances in its MLB Stock Watch.

It will be interesting to see how the Giants improve or, hopefully not, decline in the article during the 2026 MLB season. Doolittle reviewed all 30 MLB teams in the MLB Stock Watch article, with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top and the Colorado Rockies at the bottom.

"Generally I'm trying to stay away from specific players in these questions," Doolittle wrote after asking why the Giants didn't add Scherzer to their rotation.

"With the Giants, though, pinpointing Scherzer allows me to make a few points," Doolittle continued. "Another possibility would be adding a cleanup hitter, except the answer there would just be Bryce Eldridge.

"Not to put too much of an onus on the kid, but he does look like a lefty-hitting version of the young Mark McGwire, and if he were to have a McGwire-like rookie season, it would go a long way toward curing any lingering Giants offensive ills," Doolittle wrote.  

Doolittle pointed out that Scherzer is a longtime friend of Giants rookie manager Tony Vitello. He thought Scherzer would be a good fit, but it didn't happen. Scherzer remains a free agent with some chatter around MLB circles that the Tampa Bay Rays might be interested in signing him.

"Maybe it'll still happen, but (Giants president of baseball operations) Buster Posey's additions to the rotation so far included less glossy veterans Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle," Doolittle wrote. "These two slot in behind standouts Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, along with Landen Roupp."

Doolittle also added that Posey might be looking at some prospects that are lingering around in the Giants' minor-league system. Among names Doolittle mentioned are Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell, and Hayden Birdsong.

In addition to all of this information, Doolittle, based on statistical data, has the Giants' win average at 82.0, a 33.5% average for making the MLB playoffs, and a 0.9% of the Giants winning the World Series.

What the Giants have time to do between now and Opening Day is to add another veteran arm to the rotation. That might be a spot for Scherzer to get signed, yet it hasn't happened.

Let's see what San Francisco just might do to improve its pitching arsenal.

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