San Francisco Giants DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $9.25 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, according to a source. Yastrzemski will return to the Bay Area in 2025 for his seventh year with the franchise after slashing .231/.302/.437 with a .739 OPS, 18 home runs, 16 doubles, 57 RBI, three stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 140 games over 474 plate appearances. The 34-year-old veteran left-handed-hitting outfielder isn't going to provide fantasy managers with a high average and has a capped ceiling on the strong side of a platoon role in San Fran's outfield, as long as he keeps that role heading into 2025. The vast majority of Yaz's production in 2024 came against righties once again, as he hit .232 (80-for-345) with all 18 of his home runs. He had just 83 at-bats against lefties.

Free-agent left-hander Blake Snell recently met with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. It's also possible that Snell met, or will meet, with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and other teams looking for a high-end starter this offseason. He did not sign until March 19 with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, so Snell is surely looking to land with a team sooner than he did a year ago. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is older than both Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, the other two high-profile free-agent starters on the market. However, unlike Fried and Burnes, he wasn't given a qualifying offer, so a team that signs him won't have to give up draft-pick compensation. Snell got off to a slow start in 2024 and dealt with injuries, but he once again finished strong and exercised an opt-out clause to once again become a free agent.

Free-agent first baseman Trenton Brooks signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres. Brooks will stay in the National League West division after making his major-league debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2024. The 29-year-old former 17th-round pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 out of the University of Nevada only played in 12 games for the Gigantes and went 3-for-25 (.120) with an RBI, stolen base and three runs scored while striking out six times. The left-handed hitter was much better in the minors in 94 games with Triple-A Sacramento, slashing a robust .302/.410/.453 with an impressive .863 OPS, 10 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 407 plate appearances. Brooks will likely start the 2025 season with the Padres in Triple-A El Paso as he looks to work his way back to the majors.

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Camilo Doval is generating interest in the trade market, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Slusser said, "The talent remains undeniable, and a few teams would consider him for a closer role." Doval entered the 2024 campaign as the bona fide ninth-inning option in the Bay Area but eventually ceded those duties to Ryan Walker later in the season after blowing five saves and holding a 4.70 ERA through the start of August. This past summer, Walker posted a stellar 1.91 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. In 2023, Doval held a strong 2.93 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP with 39 saves across 67 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation during the offseason, as Walker may open the campaign as the top option for saves.

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said that the team is looking for a shortstop this offseason. Tyler Fitzgerald impressed at the 6 in his rookie season, but he can also play multiple positions. Meanwhile, the Giants hope that moving infielder Marco Luciano to the outfield will help him unlock his true potential offensively. If Fitzgerald continues to hit like he did this year, the Giants will find a place for him in their everyday lineup. In 96 games after debuting in 10 games in 2023, Fitzgerald hit a strong .280/.334/.497 with an .831 OPS, 15 home runs, 34 RBI, 17 steals and 53 runs scored. Over a full season, that kind of production will be very attractive in all fantasy leagues. Luciano has struggled defensively up the middle and also hit just .211/.259/.303 with no homers and 28 K's in 76 at-bats in 27 games in 2024.