Previewing the SF Giants’ hugely important 2022-23 offseason

The 2022-23 offseason has officially begun, and it’s a big one for the San Francisco Giants. Coming off a disappointing 81-81 season, with a team that just wasn’t that compelling, the SF Giants must act boldly for the first time in a long time in the offseason. Free agency technically opened yesterday, beginning a five-day window during which teams have exclusive negotiating rights with their own free agents. For the Giants, this includes Carlos Rodón, Joc Pederson, and Brandon Belt.

Option decisions are also due by Thursday, and Rodón already went through the formality of rejecting his $22.5M option to return to the San Francisco Giants next season. The SF Giants must make their option decision on Evan Longoria by Thursday. The Giants hold a $13M club option on Longoria with a $5M buyout. It’s possible that they restructure the deal to bring him back in 2023; it’s also possible the Giants just let him walk. Qualifying offers must also be extended by Thursday. The Giants will try to work something out with Rodón before then, but an extension is unlikely to materialize, resulting in an easy decision for the Giants to give Rodón the QO.

Then, on Thursday, free agency officially opens up. That means the San Francisco Giants can at last contact Aaron Judge. They can contact Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Nimmo. They can pursue any and all free agents, and they figure to do so in an aggressive way this winter. Even accounting for arbitration estimates, the Giants have only about $100M committed for 2023. They’ve spent about $162M per year for the last few years, and they should at least get back to that point and possibly blow past it. There’s no reason $180M to $200M shouldn’t be possible, and the stars may well align for a homecoming to the SF Giants for Judge.

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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.

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