Giants banking on youth movement in loaded NL West

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants tried hard to lure reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge away from the Yankees in the offseason. Despite their best efforts, Judge opted to stay with New York on a nine-year, $360 million contract -- dealing a blow to San Francisco's hopes of landing a superstar who could help revitalize the franchise after a disappointing .500 finish in 2022.

The Giants will get an up-close look at Judge in pinstripes when they head to Yankee Stadium for an Opening Day matchup on Thursday, adding another intriguing subplot to the Giants' 2023 lid-lifter.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “We tried to sign him. He’s the opposition now. I think, if anything, it provides a little extra motivation for us and for the guys on this team. I think we’ve got a really good vibe in our clubhouse and guys feel really good about the group of players we have.”

Even without Judge and All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa, the Giants feel they’re entering a new campaign with an improved roster after adding newcomers Michael Conforto, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Taylor Rogers and Mitch Haniger on free-agent deals.

The challenge now will be proving that they did enough to keep up with the talent-rich Dodgers and Padres in the loaded National League West.

What needs to go right?
The strength of the Giants is expected to be a deep starting rotation, which is led by homegrown ace Logan Webb and veterans Alex Cobb, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Stripling and Manaea. San Francisco’s starters led the Majors with a 3.10 FIP in 2022, and they will once again be counted on to set the tone throughout the regular season.

"Probably the most encouraging thing is we're seemingly headed into the last couple of days of camp with a pretty healthy pitching staff," manager Gabe Kapler said. "I don't think there are many teams that can say that they have the pitching depth that we have."

The Giants’ staff was frequently crushed by poor defense last year, so they’ll need to play a cleaner brand of baseball and make sure they execute on fundamentals. The arrival of Conforto and Haniger, coupled with the return of Joc Pederson, should also add more firepower to a lineup that hasn’t produced a 30-home run hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004.

More than anything, the Giants will need to get meaningful contributions from a farm system that has struggled to develop impact players in recent years. With top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison infielder Casey Schmitt, right-hander Tristan Beck and others waiting in the wings at Triple-A Sacramento, the club believes it finally has a wave of young players who are on the verge of breaking through and being part of the next core group of regulars.

“If we are going to win a lot of games this year, if we are going to be competitive in the National League West, if we are going to go to the postseason and go deep into the postseason, it’s going to be because we have a roster that gets supplemented by young players coming up and performing,” Kapler said.

Great unknown
What can the Giants expect out of their catchers? Joey Bart has yet to put it all together at the big league level and will have to show he can put the ball in play more consistently to entrench himself as San Francisco’s starter. Veteran Roberto Perez, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, will likely serve as Bart’s backup, but there are questions about his durability after he appeared in only 65 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. The Giants are also expected to carry Rule 5 Draft pick Blake Sabol, who remains a work in progress behind the plate and figures to see most of his initial playing time in the outfield following injuries to Haniger and Austin Slater.

Team MVP will be: OF Michael Conforto
Conforto missed the entire 2022 season due to right shoulder surgery, but he has the potential to be the steal of the offseason if he regains the All-Star form he flashed over his first seven seasons with the Mets. The Giants ramped up Conforto slowly this spring, but he’s healthy now and already impressing at the plate by crushing a team-high four homers in Cactus League action.

Team Cy Young will be: RHP Logan Webb
Webb set career bests in games started (32), innings pitched (192 1/3), ERA (2.90) and wins (15) in 2022, but the Giants believe there’s still more to come from the 26-year-old.

“I think he’s the type of guy who can be in the Cy Young conversation on a regular basis,” Kapler said.

Bold prediction
Camilo Doval earns his first All-Star selection. Doval might not be a household name, but he emerged as one of the top young closers last year and appears poised to take another step forward in 2023. With a fastball that’s topped out at 104 mph and a wipeout slider, Doval’s profile should only continue to grow in the years to come.