Winter Meetings primer: What’s in store for SF Giants, Buster Posey in Dallas?

The Giants have yet to make a significant move since Buster Posey assumed the role of president of baseball operations, but that could quickly change at next week’s Winter Meetings.

The Winter Meetings is a time in the baseball calendar where deals get done. It was at last year’s Winter Meetings that the Padres shipped Juan Soto to the Yankees. At this year’s extravaganza, the superstar outfielder could be deciding where he wants to earn a salary in excess of $600 million.

The Giants may not be frontrunners for Soto, but there are plenty of players still in search of their next employer. Posey has repeatedly emphasized pitching and defense, and the Winter Meetings represent an opportunity to address both areas.

Before baseball’s brass congregates in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole from Dec. 8-12, let’s review what has happened this offseason, which players have signed and which players remain available.

What’s happened this offseason so far? 

The Giants have yet to make any trades or sign any free agents to major-league contracts (the team agreed to a minor-league deal with catcher Max Stassi), but that doesn’t mean the new front office hasn’t been radio silent.

Left-hander Robbie Ray declined to exercise his opt out while infielder Wilmer Flores exercised his player option. Blake Snell, of course, opted out of his two-year deal and joined the Dodgers. At the non-tender deadline, the Giants agreed to one-year deals with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and right-hander Austin Warren while tendering contracts to infielder LaMonte Wade Jr. and right-handers Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval.

Bob Melvin’s staff has seen some parts move around in recent weeks. The Giants had four coaches — Alyssa Nakken (Guardians), Justin Viele (Rangers), Pedro Guerrero (Marlins) and Bryan Price (stepped down) — depart from the organization. J.P. Martinez was elevated to pitching coach following Price’s departure, and on Thursday, the Giants named Oscar Bernard and Damon Minor as assistant hitting coaches.

In the front office, Posey elevated Zack Minasian to serve as his general manager; named Randy Winn vice president of player development; and hired former general manager Bobby Evans and former agent Jeff Berry to serve as advisors. Former general manager Pete Putila joined the Braves, as did former director of analytics Michael Schwartze.

Earlier this week, the Giants hired Hadi Raad to serve as the team’s new pro scouting director, a source confirmed to this news organization. Prior to joining San Francisco, Raad served as a professional evaluation team leader with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Which free agents have signed?

Any hope for a reunion with Snell was dashed last week when the left-hander parlayed his one season in San Francisco into a five-year, $152 million deal with the Dodgers. The move doesn’t quite put him in Benedict Arnold territory, but don’t expect a warm reception when he returns to Oracle Park in Dodger blue for the first time.

Snell is one of several starting pitchers who have come off the market in recent weeks, a list that includes Yusei Kikuchi, Frankie Montas, Matthew Boyd and Luis Severino. Nick Martinez wasn’t technically a free agent, but he was the only player to accept the $21.05 million qualifying offer.

These deals signal that starting pitching will go for a premium. Kikuchi only has one season with an ERA under four, but the Angels gave him $63 million over three years. Boyd only pitched 39 2/3 innings last year but will make $29 million over two years with the Cubs. Montas had a mediocre year (4.89 ERA, 150 ⅔ innings) but got two years and $34 million from the Mets. Based on the first wave of signings, Corbin Burnes — a Saint Mary’s product and reportedly a Giants target — and Max Fried aren’t the only ones poised to cash in.

Other notable signings: Aroldis Chapman, Kyle Higashioka, Tommy Edman (extension), Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Hendricks, Michael Wacha

Which free agents are still available?

Ahead of the Winter Meetings, the list of unsigned talent includes Burnes, Fried, Jack Flaherty, Willy Adames, Pete Alonso, Teoscar Hernández, Alex Bregman, Ha-Seong Kim, Anthony Santander, Jack Flaherty, Shane Bieber and, of course, Soto. But after making runs at Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, among others, in recent offseasons, the Giants don’t appear to be in the mix Soto

Soto, according to a report from The Athletic, is expected to sign for $600 million at the minimum, the clubs publicly in contention being the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Still, alluring options remain.

Adames and Kim would represent an upgrade at shortstop, a position that Posey is prioritizing. Fried and Burnes have yet to sign either, but if the Giants want to avoid dolling out nine figures while improving their rotation, their options include the likes of Flaherty, Sean Manaea and Nathan Eovaldi, among others.

Also available is Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who will pitch for a major-league team next season after being posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines. Sasaki is not expected to sign until after Jan. 15, which will make him part of the 2025 international amateur signing class. Due to the intricacies of the posting system, every team will have the financial capital to afford Sasaki.