San Francisco Giants DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday as he recovers from left-elbow UCL surgery. In a corresponding move, the Giants signed right-hander Austin Warren to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year after making only three starts for the Seattle Mariners and won't be able to pitch in 2024 until the second half of the season after the Giants acquired the former Cy Young winner in an offseason trade with Seattle. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw is an elite strikeout artist when healthy and took the next step in 2021 with the Blue Jays when he won the American League Cy Young by finally limiting his walks. Ray has already been cleared to throw three times a week but won't be an option for fantasy managers until the second half in 2024.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (elbow) has been cleared to throw three times a week and is on schedule in his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he had in May of last year. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw and former American League Cy Young winner in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays only made one start for the Seattle Mariners last year before going under the knife. As a result, he's not expected to make his debut with the Giants in 2024 until sometime after the All-Star break this summer. When he does return, it might take him a bit to get his bearings to close out his first year in San Francisco, so fantasy managers should temper expectations. In 2022 with the M's, Ray was decent, posting a 3.71 ERA with 212 K's and 67 walks in 189 innings. When healthy, he's one of the better left-handed strikeout artists.

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that he "would be shocked" if outfielder Jung Hoo Lee isn't the team's leadoff hitter on Opening Day. The plan is for Lee to bat leadoff against both right-handers and left-handers in his first year in the big leagues. The Giants added the 25-year-old Korean this offseason on a six-year, $113 million deal, and his high contact rates and on-base skills should serve him well at the top of San Francisco's lineup this year. However, it remains to be seen if Lee will have an adjustment period to the velocity of big-league pitching in 2024. He doesn't carry much power or speed, but fantasy managers should get a fine source of batting average, OBP and runs scored from Lee now that he's expected to hit first for the Gigantes. In addition to hitting leadoff, Lee will serve as the team's starting center fielder.

Free-agent catcher Curt Casali agreed to a minor-league deal with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, according to sources. Casali's deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The 35-year-old veteran backstop will join Miami after hitting a meager .175/.290/.200 with no home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored in 40 games played for the Cincinnati Reds in 2023 as their backup. He could have more opportunity with the Fish this year, although he'll enter camp behind both Nick Fortes and Christian Bethancourt. Casali is well off the fantasy radar as a career .220/.314/.380 hitter with 47 long balls and 154 RBI in 502 games across 10 big-league seasons with the Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners.

Free-agent left-hander Drew Pomeranz (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Tuesday with the Los Angeles Angels. Pomeranz hasn't pitched in a big-league game since 2021 due to arm injuries, and he was forced to shut down his minor-league rehab assignment late last year due to more elbow pain. The 34-year-old southpaw reliever will be hoping to win a roster spot out of spring training this year with the Angels if he can stay on the field. In 27 relief appearances for the San Diego Padres back in 2021, Pomeranz had a strong 1.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts. He has 11 years of major-league experience but has only recorded nine saves and should be ignored in all fantasy leagues for now.