"And seeing as we're still waiting on the Giants to sign or acquire a player worthy of a full-bore press conference this winter, I suppose I need to update that take. Don't believe in the Giants until you see a jersey pulled over a collared shirt. Maybe that comes in the final days before spring training begins. Maybe not. But in the meantime, the Giants are just spinning their gears with a collection of meh transactions."
"The latest move signing Luis Arraez is being sold by advocates as a return to Giants Baseball. It is actually something far worse: fan service for die-hards who wish it were still 2012. It is a move designed to make you look at antiquated stats like batting average and ignore the analytical crater where the rest of the offense is supposed to be to ignore the last decade of baseball and the irreversible way the game is played today."
"If the goal was really to limit strikeouts, explain the acquisition of slick-fielding centerfielder Harrison Bader (who whiffed on nearly 30 percent his swings in 2025 22nd percentile in all of baseball last year), or Rafael Devers (32 percent whiff rate), or the signings of Willy Adames (29 percent) or Matt Chapman (a downright demure 25 percent) before him? Apparently, Arraez, who almost never swings and misses (5 percent whiff rate), won't strike out enough to cover up the whole team."
The Giants entered the offseason without a clear marquee addition and have made only minor, unimpressive transactions. The signing of Luis Arraez prioritizes batting average and appeals to long-time fans, while failing to address modern analytical priorities or broader lineup weaknesses. Several recent acquisitions (Harrison Bader, Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman) have high whiff rates, undermining claims that a contact hitter will materially reduce team strikeouts. The moves resemble fan service rather than a coherent effort to construct an analytically sound offense before spring training.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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