Have the San Francisco Giants lost their way? Or was Brandon Crawford not adequately reading the situation? Those are questions that arose while reading The Athletic's piece today in which Andrew Baggarly talks to both Giants legendary shortstop Brandon Crawford and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi.

Crawford told Baggarly that he expressed to Zaidi a desire to return to the Giants, and that he had no playing time expectations and wanted to be a reserve player—even a versatile one—who also mentored young players like Marco Luciano, Casey Schmitt, and Tyler Fitzgerald. However, over the last two seasons, Crawford has been abysmal at the plate and declining in the field. He'll be 37 years old this season.

There's a blatant lack of honest communication from Zaidi to some Giants players, now including Crawford twice (last year Crawford wasn't told about the plan to move him off short to accommodate Carlos Correa until after news of the signing got out). When all is said and done, however, the writing was on the wall that Crawford's time with the SF Giants was over, and it's just sad and unfortunate that Crawford didn't see things the same way.

In other news, a bulked up Luis Matos hit two home runs today, and Giants pitcher Tristan Beck has elected to have surgery to address his upper arm aneurysm on Monday at Stanford.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

First Keaton Winn and now Tristan Beck. The San Francisco Giants' remarkably inexperienced projected starting rotation outside of Logan Webb has taken two hits recently, with Winn dealing with an elbow injury (that has progressed well) and now Tristan Beck being diagnosed with a scary upper arm aneurysm. We at Locked On wish a speedy and full recovery for Beck, who stands to miss significant time with this complicated health matter.

The SF Giants love their young pitching that goes beyond Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn. There's Mason Black. Carson Whisenhunt. Landen Roupp. Reggie Crawford. And others. However, it would be foolish to go into the season with such a reliance on unproven pitching.

The Giant should sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery. It makes too much sense, and there is too much riding on this season. The SF Giants cannot afford to miss the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Remember when San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar received a 10th-place MVP vote in his lone season with the Giants? It was an inexplicable vote, but yet somehow it also made sense given the grit and passion Pillar exhibited for SF Giants fans on a daily basis. Pillar is just one of several San Francisco Giants "cult heroes" who are discussed on today's Locked On Giants podcast.

Stephen Vogt gets a vote as well, even though he was also only in the orange and black for one season. Remember Alex Dickerson, anyone? How about the legend of Donnie Barrels? Indeed, in Ben Kaspick's five years of hosting Locked On Giants there have been numerous cult heroes on the team whose popularity outweighed their production on the field. Either that or their production was only short and sweet.

Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes also participates in the exercise, listing off several memorable San Diego Padres players who fall into the same category in his nearly five years of hosting his show.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel
New customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Blake Snell or Matt Chapman to the San Francisco Giants? It could come down to a simple coin flip. According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser, multiple sources have indicated that the SF Giants are still pursuing Snell and Chapman, and one source described the odds of the Giants landing one of them as '50-50.'

Who better to talk to about reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell than Locked On Padres host Javier Reyes, who has watched all of Snell's starts over the past few seasons? Locked On Giants and Locked On Padres discuss Snell in detail, and why signing him would make a ton of sense for the Giants. And less sense for the Padres.

Giants fans are hungry for a winner and Snell would give them one of the best rotations in baseball once Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb return from injuries. Meanwhile, the Padres have done the all-in thing and it hasn't worked, so taking a more measured approach—and waiting for a really good starting pitching free agent class next year—might make the most sense. For the SF Giants, however, the time is now to finally take a risk and push in their chips.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel
New customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

One by one, the core of the greatest era in San Francisco Giants history is moving on. Brandon Crawford was the last man standing, but now his Giants tenure is all but officially over. Crawford is signing a major-league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, per multiple reports. The SF Giants were always extremely unlikely to re-sign Crawford after a couple of very disappointing seasons. He deserved more from the franchise than a minor league deal, but that's likely all they'd reasonably be willing to offer the franchise icon. The good news is that SF Giants fans will get at least one more chance to cheer for Crawford when the Cardinals come to Oracle Park this year. We at Locked On Giants wish Brandon Crawford nothing but the best as he continues his life and baseball journey.

Speaking of deals for shortstops, the SF Giants signed Nick Ahmed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on what not-so-coincidentally was the same day Crawford agreed to terms with St. Louis. Ahmed, like Crawford, is known for his glove and not his bat (but Ahmed has historically been a worse hitter than Crawford). Ahmed, however, was able to be brought in on a minor league deal so it's a no-risk move that provides some veteran insurance in case Marco Luciano isn't able to seize the shortstop role. The signing doesn't preclude them from making a play for Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, or Jordan Montgomery.

Switching gears, we learned that the Giants made a one-year, $14M offer to J.D. Martinez before they ultimately landed Jorge Soler for that same AAV over three years. There was initially a report that Martinez turned down the Giants because he simply "didn't want to play there," but other reporters set the record straight that Martinez was seeking $20M and the SF Giants considered that to be too pricey. The fact that the Giants' offer was exactly the same as Soler's in terms of 2024 salary further reinforces the notion that the Giants may be operating with a self-imposed salary cap of about $165M.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

eBay Motors
With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel
New customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Athletic's Keith Law was on KNBR recently and he ripped the San Francisco Giants' apparent plan to start Marco Luciano at shortstop, going so far as to call the plan "reckless." Does Law have a point? Are the SF Giants setting Luciano up for failure? Or does Law have questionable analysis skills? Memorably, Law not so long ago wrote a piece in which he re-drafted the class that yielded Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Christian Yelich, among others. The player Law said he would take first overall? Andrelton Simmons—a shockingly poor decision with the benefit of hindsight. So ... maybe Law's words shouldn't always be taken as gospel. He also bad-mouthed the SF Giants ahead of the 2010 season, and we all know how that ended up.

Among the other questions asked and answered on today's mailbag edition of the Locked On Giants podcast:

If Luis Matos has a good spring, would you trade one of Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Conforto and give Luis an everyday corner spot? Don’t understand the logic of starting him at Sac if he has a good spring but basically give Luciano SS without much competition.

Do you think we really need Slater? He’s basically a one trick pony and was horrible the 2nd half of last year. Between Matos, Blake Sabol, Tyler Fitzgerald, Wade Meckler, and Ramos he’s taking up a valuable roster spot and is a FA next year. I just think Ramos deserves a fair shot.

Any chance you can discuss the WAR for every teams 1st round pick from the 10 years and how the Hiants would've been better off having not signed a single first round pick in that span? Susan Slusser retweeted the chart I’m talking about.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The San Francisco Giants need pitching. And not just some back-end starter type. The Giants should go out there and sign Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery (preferably Snell ... but more on that later). Right now, the SF Giants' projected starting rotation features Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Winn, and Tristan Beck. Outside of Webb, there's a ton of risk and inexperience in that group. The Giants really like they young pitching that they have, but they project to open the season with a rotation that's full of question marks.

Complicating matters is the fact that the Giants will start the season with Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb on the injured list. If the SF Giants were to sign, say, Snell, then their rotation once Cobb and Ray are back would be something like: Webb, Snell, Cobb, Ray, Hicks. That would be one of the better rotations in baseball—all the more reason to do it—but note that there is no longer room for any of the young arms. The thing is, however, that injuries and under-performance always happen and the Giant shouldn't not sign Snell or Montgomery because it would squeeze out younger players in the second half.

Switching gears, J.D. Davis' comments on the Matt Chapman-to-the-Giants rumors are discussed. His comments are courtesy of Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle, and they're very interesting. Davis takes the whole thing in stride, and even suggests that Chapman would be a good shortstop option in order to take some pressure off of the young Marco Luciano. Davis then says that next year, Chapman could slide back over to third and Luciano could play short if he proves to be a capable major league hitter and shortstop in 2024.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Gametime

Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel

New customers, join today and you’ll get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS if your first bet of FIVE DOLLARS or more wins. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday, the San Francisco Giants' and San Diego Padres' most unpopular players in recent memory were discussed. Turns out, there were too many to fit into just one episode. Locked On Giants and Locked On Padres continue to point out the players who were not embraced by fans since they started hosting their respective shows in Part II of the "Love to Hate" series.

Numerous recent Giants certainly fall into that category. Even in 2021, when the SF Giants won 107 games, Tommy La Stella was disliked for his poor performance on the field, frequent injuries, and generally unathletic nature. In the last couple of years, after the Giants DFA'd La Stella with a year left on his contract, players like Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani have been the target of fan frustration. Joc Pederson might even qualify now that he left the Giants and liked a negative instagram comment about San Francisco on his way out the door.

On the Padres side, there's one clear and obvious winner who stands far above the rest. Eric Hosmer is host Javier Reyes' greatest nemesis. So much so that Hosmer has actually blocked the Locked On Padres twitter account. Hosmer's strong reputation is contrasted against the experience of actually watching him play on a daily basis and looking at the numbers that show he might be one of the most overrated players ever.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On X: https://x.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices