FanGraphs top 100 update has 1B Bryce Eldridge at 16, SS Josuar Gonzalez at 28, LHP Carson Whisenhunt at 84. On Gonzalez: “Gonzalez is an incredible athlete with amazing athleticism and range on defense. He’s built like a young Francisco Lindor.” blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-end-of-...

Lee says Giants have asked him about 3B/2B/1B Sung-moon Song 송성문 (29.1Y), the best position player in KBO this year. 20/20 player, who increased power in 2024. Cost likely < Hyeseong Kim’s 3/12. If he can be ok at 2B (mostly at 3B recently), LHH platoon fit. www.chosun.com/english/spor...

Probably could’ve used that Devers guy, but dunno

I see Mets hung on to Antoan Richardson. If he had the choice, Melvin should’ve done the same, that would’ve helped the OF defense, win a few more games, and possibly helped him keep his job.

I’ve been building out a player similarity finder, based on swing path, contact quality, approach. Lee has two fascinating comps, GPerdomo, Luis Arraez. Based on video, to align closer with Perdomo, Lee needs to be a bit flatter through the zone while catching balls out front more. Definitely doable

Posey: “It’s very dependent on coaching staff. It depends on their willingness to receive the information and how much they want to use it.” I read that as Melvin’s staff was not providing what some players wanted. Ones who didn’t go directly to analysts at least. youtu.be/Nj37M7EfpMc?... (20:50)

John Shea on KNBR: thinks this is probably it for Melvin, who wasn’t very happy about being let go. Sounds like Melvin thought it was a flawed roster, especially after the trade deadline. omny.fm/shows/papa-l... (Listened while managing my toddler, so if I’ve misrepresented Shea, please correct me)

BA’s top DSL prospects lists SS Josuar Gonzalez at 1, LHP Carlos De La Rosa at 14, RHP Alberto Laroche at 16. Gonzalez: “surefire bet to stick at shortstop…70 grades for his speed…elements of a turn-and-burn player who makes his money at the top of a lineup” www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-...

After listening to the presser, I’m feeling good about 3-5. But I think they might go after a high leverage RP.

Posey says Bochy is not being considered for manager. Not in those exact words but yeah.

I would like to see the FO asked about this and perhaps see expanded reporting. An org with resources like the Giants lacking things that players want should be a story. FO decisions led to this and I assume there was thinking behind it, would like to know what that was and how they will adjust.

I say “rack-plus” in my head.

Trying to read the Posey tea leaves using last offseason’s staff moves. Despite whatever narrative people have about Posey, he ended up filling both GM and pitching coach openings with Zaidi holdovers. Based on that, I think “Kapler without the ick” predictors are on the right track.

Kawakami: “He’s (Posey) joked to people around the front office that he can always go back to retired life.” sfstandard.com/2025/09/30/k... Either missed this or never registered, but Posey is on a 3 year deal. Not that it means a whole lot.

Hmmm. Maybe to help players, analysts could be added and be set up in the clubhouse, perhaps located across the hall from the manager’s office. www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-fran...

Favorite: So far Albernaz (HM to the Kevin Long pipe dream) Do not want: Any retread, really Funniest: Dave Martinez

Baldelli will be a hot commodity. Wouldn’t mind him, especially if he came with former Giants player dev guy, Matt Daniels.

Wish Cherington would get his staff to do something interesting. Taking your lumps as a more sophisticated Rockies is boring.

Not too troubled about the firing, but what exactly has changed since Posey picked up Melvin’s option? They were 45-41 when 2026 option was picked up, finished 36-40. Posey was throwing shit against the wall then to kickstart the team. Not sure that is the best way to operate.

Favorite: Albernaz maybe? (I have not given this much thought) DNW: Schumaker/Descalso (Cardinals stinky) Funniest: Danny Lehmann (but also DNW, see above)

Favorite: Albernaz Don't want: Hallberg Funniest: Pat Burrell

Fav: Albernaz DNW: Matheney or Matt Williams Funniest: Pence

Post your manager candidates: Favorite: Do not want: Funniest: (There is no right answer because no one really knows anything to make a claim with solid foundation)

Manager candidate ranking based mostly on puff pieces: 1. Scott Servais - 2016-24 SEA 2. Skip Schumaker - 2023 NL MOTY. Unlikely 3. Rodney Linares - TB bench coach 4. Craig Albernaz - CLE bench coach, withdrew from MIA/CHW consideration in ‘24 5. Ryan Flaherty 6. Don Kelly 7. Daniel Descalso

This is his charts... the blue cluster, currently CU, is going to be something else, either slider or sweeper The yellow cluster, currently SL, will either stay as slider or become a cutter... this one is borderline

There is quite a bit of variation in determining McDonald’s pitch mix and his primary breaking ball: Statcast (CB), Pitch Info (SL), BP’s Stuff Pro (Sweeper). @mikepetriello.bsky.social @harrypav.bsky.social @srbrown70.bsky.social

Trevor McDonald looking good early is a somewhat interesting parallel to Heliot Ramos last year. Both received opportunities only when FO didn’t really have anybody else to go. Then outperformed FO depth chart. Obviously Ramos was an All-Star and McDonald has had just two good starts

15 whiffs on CB*. Third most on the CB this year, tied with a few others including Roupp (against PHI). baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_sea... Pitch Info has that primary breaking as a SL.

There can’t be too many curveballs being thrown 84+ from McDonald’s arm angle. Explains some of truly wild swings we’ve seen tonight (yes I know it’s Rockies).

LHP Carlos De La Rosa (acquired in Doval trade) listed under trending up in BA’s review of top DSL pitchers. 91-94 t96 with 20” IVB (elite). Also showed a feel for a slider. www.baseballamerica.com/stories/20-t...

My guess of what the Giants will do: 1. Replace some or add to staff, but retain Melvin 2. No RP is acquired for >5-7M AAV 3. Offense mostly the same, Schmitt at 2B, Gilbert in CF/RF, look for vet RHH COF, <10M AAV 4. Add a premium SP (think Valdez, Suarez, Gray) 5. Another SP at 5M AAV

Sonny Gray sounds open to waiving his no-trade clause. The wrinkle though is that he has 35M due for 2026, plus a 5M buyout for 2027. CBT $ is recalculated after a trade, so his CBT cost for 2026 would be 40M (? or 35M). 104 ERA-, 84 FIP-, 75 DRA-(!) this year in 180IP. www.mlb.com/news/cardina...

Relevant read on Gilbert’s elite jump. www.mlb.com/news/drew-gi... Gilbert shouts out Antoan Richardson, who was Giants first base and outfield coach from 2020-23. Giants really need someone to improve Ramos and Lee.

IIRC, PECOTA and ZiPS projected the Giants to be a 78-82 win team. Maybe add 1-2 with Devers. That’s about where they’ll end up this year, probably a bit under. Not a narratively smooth path to get here, but nothing really about this season’s result was unexpected.

Man, working through this offseason plan, it’s going to be challenging to fill needs. Unless payroll goes past CBT or FO goes with some volatility, the farm will need to be utilized. A Josuar/Level type would need to be moved. Not sure how I feel about it, but tough tough calls this winter.

Has anyone broken down how pitch framing value shifts under the challenge system? My rough idea: use pitch-level framing value, then strip out the two biggest absolute value calls each game for both sides. Might be missing something obvious for why this won’t work, but maybe directionally ok?

MLB Pipeline ranks SS Luis Hernández at 1 on their list of top 50 2026 intl prospects. “…preternaturally gifted bat speed and a consistent ability to get to his extra-base pop…” Hernández is expected to sign with the Giants on 1/15 for a bonus in the 5M range. www.mlb.com/milb/prospec...

My daughter & I have lingered at youth baseball games lately on the way to the playground. Coaches yell nonstop, every pitch has instructions. How about letting kids focus PA to PA & saving feedback for later? Even my 2-year old kept staring at the coaches instead of the game.

Hmmm, other than the McCarthy flyball, rest were routine. Just a language quibble here, but does concern me when routine plays are considered impressive because that usually means there was a slow jump or inefficient route to make it look harder. www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Gilbert’s path to sticking is being able to pepper RF/RCF with line drives. His swing is geared for that. If he can move a tiny bit up in the box and catch balls out front or sit back into hips, he might be able to increase his attack angle enough to get to 10-12 HR. It’s a tough line to walk.

Gilbert looking competent in CF is good for him. But haven’t seen much from him at the plate to think he can stick. He had a deep flyout yesterday, on a pitch up & in, that he needs to tattoo. Just not sure he has the juice for it. Would like to see him be more aggressive.

First 12 starts of the season, Verlander had 6 starts with 4S usage above 50%. In the last 15 starts, just twice. 6 times it has been below 40%, which only happened twice in the first 12 starts.

This catch by Drew Gilbert had a 5% catch probability. He had to run a long way, but looks a bit easier than that. Perhaps due to the dimensions of Chase being deeper there than average? Gilbert acquitted himself fine in CF, all other outs had >85% catch prob. baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-video...

A bit wild that Miami wasn’t providing this knowledge to their players in 2020. Randoms on the internet were long familiar with IVB by that point.

I looked up how RF has been going since Yaz was traded. Since 8/1, Matos has had a 154 wRC+ in 68 PA. That was surprising. Didn’t really think much of him being sent down recently, but seems a bit unfair.

Would the Giants be in a wild card slot right now if the Giants kept Rogers, Doval, Yaz? Really tough to say, probably not, but likely would be closer. Along with not wanting to “lose” trades, I think Zaidi highly valued being on competitive side of this really tough question.

Per Pavs, Reggie Crawford underwent another shoulder surgery for an injury unrelated to the labrum injury that caused his surgery last September www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-fran...

Catching up on Teng’s start. The thing that stands out to me both in this start and all of his appearances is how his sweeper punches above its “weight.” It looks good and has some stuff quality, but the results he gets from it exceed its quality. That’s feel imo.

Beck has appearances where he has feel for everything and can give you a good start. But that hasn’t been the case this year. FB has taken a step back and it’s hard to survive off of just a sweeper. (Trevor McDonald plz)

Lol