As the trade deadline approached, San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi confidently asserted that the team had the best starting rotation in the majors. However, only one pitcher—Blake Snell—seemed to respond to that claim.
Zaidi shares why he wanted to keep the “best rotation in baseball” together at the trade deadline pic.twitter.com/KSvZRRoumW
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 30, 2024
Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, has emerged as a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Giants. On Tuesday night, he secured his fourth win, improving his record to 4-3. In a standout performance, Snell struck out 12 batters while allowing just one hit, two walks, and no earned runs over six innings. Manager Bob Melvin likely pulled him after six innings to preserve his arm, as Snell is expected to command a significant contract in free agency this offseason.
Farhan Zaidi Praises Giants’ Rotation, Snell Listens Intently
Although Snell started the season slowly, he found his dominant form just as the trade deadline approached. Unfortunately, the Giants were struggling with a 53-56 record, sitting five games back of the San Diego Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Despite Zaidi’s optimistic claim that the Giants had the makings of a playoff team, the reality has been quite different. The team has faced significant offensive struggles, with promising young hitters like Tyler Fitzgerald and Heliot Ramos cooling off, leaving fans wondering about prospects like Marco Luciano.
Since the All-Star break, the Giants have posted a disappointing 19-22 record, ranking 25th in the league. Their starting pitchers have a record of 11-55, placing them 22nd out of 30 teams. With a starting pitching ERA of 4.26, they rank 19th. However, their strikeout rate is impressive, averaging 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranks second in the league, just behind Atlanta. Conversely, their walks per nine innings average of 3.48 ranks 27th, ahead of only the Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, and Chicago White Sox.
Struggles Outside of the Pitching
The offense has struggled significantly, often failing to score in multiple games, which illustrates that the team’s record is not solely a reflection of the starting pitching. Just as quarterbacks in football often shoulder blame for dropped passes, the pitching staff must bear responsibility for the team’s win-loss record.
The Giants’ lack of offensive production indicates that while they may have one of the better rotations in some statistical categories, they do not have the best. Zaidi seems overly reliant on pitching, and trading a player like Snell could have provided immediate upgrades to the lineup or brought in prospects to support the ongoing rebuild that started in 2016. Since the anomaly of their 2021 season, the Giants have largely been absent from meaningful baseball discussions, especially after Buster Posey‘s retirement.
As the regular season approaches its conclusion, Zaidi’s future in San Francisco appears increasingly uncertain. Bob Melvin may soon face scrutiny, although it’s still early for him to take the brunt of the criticism. Snell, currently showcasing his talents, is likely to secure a contract significantly higher than the $30 million player option offered by the Giants. Fans should not grow accustomed to seeing him in the team’s orange and black, as he is more likely to sign with another team for a better deal and a greater chance at contention. There is uncertainty regarding whether Snell was ever actively traded or what offers the Giants might have received, but it seems a missed opportunity to move him when interest was high.
Instead, Zaidi appeared to be hoping for a turnaround based on projections that may no longer hold.
Main Photo: © John Hefti-Imagn Images
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