Logan Webb remains the anchor in San Francisco, but the Giants’ rotation looks like a major offseason project after a year spent near the bottom of the National League standings.
That’s the backdrop for Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, who named the Giants the top landing spot for soon-to-be free agent right-hander Casey Mize. With president of baseball operations Buster Posey facing a lot of work on the pitching side, Rymer argued the club may not have much choice but to patch together a workable staff.
"With how much money the Giants have tied up in Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Jung Hoo Lee, Webb and [Adrian] Houser, though, they kind of have to at least try to cobble together a competent rotation," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote.
Mize’s season told two very different stories. The former first overall pick was excellent in the first half with the Detroit Tigers, putting up a 2.70 ERA and allowing only five home runs across 86.2 innings. Then came a midseason trade to the San Diego Padres and a freak ankle sprain in the dugout that knocked him off the postseason roster.
After the move, things unraveled fast. Mize finished with a 7.46 ERA and gave up 13 homers in just 44.2 innings with San Diego.
Rymer also pointed out that Mize fits the type of arm the Giants have chased before.
"But every other free agent starting pitcher they've signed in the past half-decade-Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Jordan Hicks, Justin Verlander, Mahle and Houser-has fit that '12-ish million per year for a maybe middle-of-the-rotation guy' description," he wrote.
Given how his stint in San Diego went, Mize is not in position to command a huge payday. Rymer suggested a two-year deal with a club option in the second year could be the kind of structure that makes sense.
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