The San Francisco Giants are in the middle of a rebuilding period, but they were slightly better than people expected them to be last season. They finished the year with a 29-31 record. Their near-500 performance shows that the Giants have promise, but they are still trying to build up the team.
The +8000 MLB betting line for the Giants to win the World Series shows that there is still a bit of work to be done on the bay. Here’s a look at the points that would keep the Giants from being an ideal wagering option.
A Need To Work With Younger Players
Many of the top performers on the Giants roster last year were some of the team’s older players. Alex Dickerson, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt are not expected to stick around for long. There’s a chance some will be traded this offseason.
The team has many young players who are likely to play a substantial part in the 2021 season. Catcher Joey Bart saw plenty of development in September, even as he struggled at the plate. Bart is considered one of the best catching prospects in the sport, and his numbers are expected to improve as he continues to perform well.
The team has many other high-value prospects that will likely get a shot in 2021, including pitcher Sean Hjelle and outfielders Heliot Ramos, Jaylin Davis, and Luis Alexander Basabe. Veteran players like Hunter Pence or Pablo Sandoval are ideal candidates for the trade deadline.
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— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 27, 2020
The Pitching Situation
It is possible that Kevin Gausman will stay with the Giants, as he was offered a one-year deal this offseason. Gausman had a 3.62 ERA and a 3-3 record last year, and he averaged close to twelve strikeouts for every nine innings he throws.
Gausman would be the only interesting pitcher on the rotation if he sticks around, with Drew Smyly having left for Atlanta this offseason. Logan Webb has a chance to develop further, but there’s no telling what he might do this coming season.
The bullpen is young and includes top prospects like Tyler Rogers and Caleb Baragar, but the team isn’t as proven in battle. Baragar had a 5-1 record, but his 4.03 ERA shows that he could struggle at times. The team also needs a closer, a position that they haven’t been successful in fielding the past few years.
Is This a Team For Wagering?
The San Francisco Giants are going to spend the coming year focusing on their rebuilding effort. Although the team has some positives of value, there is still a need to see how well the team can compete beyond 2021.
It would be tough to recommend them for a wager, especially since the team is coming in the same division as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. But it will still be interesting to see how some of the team’s young players will compete this coming year as they look for long-term positions for the coming season.
*Odds are correct at time of writing.
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