<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-must-go-all-in-corbin-burnes-signing-scott-boras');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants must go all in to secure Corbin Burnes signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scott-Boras-Giants-hit-impasse-in-Corbin-Burnes-negotiations-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Giants must go all in to secure Corbin Burnes signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T10:22:22-08:00">December 18th, 10:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T11:20:05-08:00">December 19th, 11:20am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-blue-jays-leading-pack-corbin-burnes-free-agency">San Francisco Giants’ pursuit of free-agent ace Corbin Burnes</a> is ongoing as negotiations between agent Scott Boras and the Giants’ front office, led by new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, continue on without an agreement reached yet. <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/san-francisco-giants-news/san-francisco-giants-predicted-steal-corbin-burnes-baltimore-orioles" rel="noopener">Initially seen as the favorite</a> to land Burnes, the Giants now find themselves in familiar territory, navigating the challenges of negotiating with Boras, a master of leveraging interest to maximize his clients’ value.</p><p>Once again, Boras might be using San Francisco to drive up Burnes’ price for the team the pitcher ultimately prefers. This tactic mirrors Boras’ approach with Aaron Judge in 2023 when rumors of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-moves-giants-must-make-next-after-losing-out-aaron-judge-yankees">Judge’s potential move to San Francisco were strategically leaked</a> to secure a higher offer from the New York Yankees. Whatever the case, the Giants must do whatever they can to secure Burnes’ services, whether that means upping their total contract offer, agreeing on a possible opt-out clause or both.</p><h2><b>Giants might miss out on another big name free agent</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Corbin-Burnes-2-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Adding Corbin Burnes would be a monumental move for a Giants team that has already made waves this offseason by signing star shortstop <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract">Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal</a>. San Francisco, long criticized for missing out on marquee names during Farhan Zaidi’s tenure, has signaled a shift in strategy under Posey. With Adames now solidifying the infield, the focus has shifted to bolstering the pitching rotation, especially after the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Blake Snell and the Yankees snagged Max Fried, leaving Burnes as the premier arm still available.</p><p>Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young winner, would form a formidable duo atop the Giants’ rotation alongside Logan Webb. The pair’s ability to log innings and anchor the rotation could give San Francisco a decisive edge in the NL West. The current rotation behind Webb remains a question mark, with Robbie Ray’s injury concerns and young arms like Hayden Birdsong and Kyle Harrison still developing.</p><p>The Giants have reportedly made a competitive offer, with projections suggesting a seven-year, $225 million deal, an increase from initial estimates after Max Fried’s $218 million contract with the Yankees set the market. Yet, that hasn’t been enough for an agreement yet, suggesting either that price tag needs to be higher or there are other sticking points, such as an opt-out clause.</p><p>Both Webb and Adames have joined the recruitment effort, emphasizing the team’s vision for a championship-caliber roster. Posey’s aggressive moves, highlighted by Adames’ signing and rumored interest in Burnes, reflect his intent to build a perennial contender. However, the Giants risk losing another top target in a critical offseason if they don’t satisfy Boras’ desires.</p><p>For now, all eyes are on Boras and Posey to see if they can bridge the gap and bring Burnes to San Francisco, a move that could redefine the Giants’ trajectory in the NL West.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants must go all in to secure Corbin Burnes signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-corbin-burnes-projected-245-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Corbin Burnes projected to get $245 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Giants-Blue-Jays-leading-the-pack-for-Corbin-Burnes-in-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Corbin Burnes projected to get $245 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T08:49:39-08:00">December 17th, 8:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T08:50:07-08:00">December 17th, 8:50am</time><address><a>Quinn Allen</a>Quinn Allen is a Senior Associate Editor with ClutchPoints. He specializes mainly in soccer, basketball, and baseball. When Quinn isn't producing content for CP,  he's writing sports betting predictions for numerous sites across North America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Orioles</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The biggest player on the open market has already signed, with Juan Soto joining the New York Mets last week. However, there are still several prized free agents available and among them is former NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.</p><p>Burnes, who spent last season with the Baltimore Orioles, is one of the better starters in the game and remains on the radar of the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Francisco Giants. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-max-fried-ny-agree-8-year-218-million-deal-free-agency">While Max Fried recently signed a $218 million deal with the New York Yankees</a>, Burnes is expected to surpass that and<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/corbin-burnes-cody-bellinger-alex-bregman-and-more-rumors?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share" rel="noopener"> fetch a contract</a> in the ballpark of $245 million.</p><p>Via Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:</p><p>“The Giants made a big splash last week with the signing of Willy Adames, but San Francisco is still looking to replace Blake Snell, who signed with the division-rival Dodgers. Burnes – a Southern California native who played his college ball in the Bay Area – would be an ideal fit, though after Max Fried landed a $218 million deal from the Yankees, Burnes is now expected to exceed that guaranteed total, with some projecting a deal worth more than $245 million.”</p><p>The Jays could be a good fit for Corbin Burnes but their rotation is already quite loaded. As Feinsand mentioned, however, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-giants-best-options-to-replace-blake-snell-as-ace">the Giants need to find an immediate replacement for Snell</a>, who is now an LA Dodger. Burnes could be a good fit.</p><p>In 2024, the righty posted a 15-9 record and 2.92 ERA, making the All-Star Game for the fourth year in a row. It was his first season in the American League but Burnes showed no problems adjusting. The Boston Red Sox and even the Orioles are expected to be in the mix for Burnes, who will be paid handsomely, no matter where he ends up.</p><p>With a career 3.19 ERA and 60-36 record, Burnes will surely be a stud with his next ball club.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Corbin Burnes projected to get $245 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-willy-adames-gets-to-point-about-giants-direction-buster-posey');   ga('set', 'title', 'Willy Adames gets direct to the point about Giants direction under Buster Posey');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-Willy-Adames-gets-direct-to-the-point-about-SFs-direction-under-Buster-Posey.jpg"></figure><h1>Willy Adames gets direct to the point about Giants direction under Buster Posey</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-13T09:01:11-08:00">December 13th, 9:01am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-13T09:01:11-08:00">December 13th, 9:01am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Willy Adames made it clear at his introductory press conference: he’s all in on the San Francisco Giants. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract">The star shortstop, fresh off signing a seven-year, $182 million deal</a>, left no doubt about his commitment to the team and his confidence in its direction under new President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey.</p><p>“Buster Posey, simple as that,” Adames said on MLB Tonight. “You have a guy like that leading the organization… he’s going to build something special here, and I want to be part of it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Buster Posey, simple as that. You have a guy like that leading the organization… he's going to build something special here and I want to be part of it."</p><p>Newest <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SFGiants</a> star Willy Adames shares why he signed with San Francisco in free agency. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBTonight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBTonight</a> <a href="https://t.co/mPMbN8v7dP">pic.twitter.com/mPMbN8v7dP</a></p><p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1867395013141049595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Adames’ enthusiasm was displayed as he sat alongside Giants manager Bob Melvin and Posey at Oracle Park. The Dominican Republic native didn’t shy away from the lofty expectations that come with a record-breaking contract, setting his sights on the ultimate goal. “Hopefully we can win a few championships like [Posey] did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here,” he said.</p><p>Known for his energetic play and clubhouse presence, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/willy-adames-corbin-burnes-message-will-fire-up-giants-fans">Adames brings much more than just his impressive stats to San Francisco.</a> The 29-year-old is coming off a career-best season with the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .251 with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. However, Posey emphasized Adames’ leadership qualities as a key reason the Giants aggressively pursued him.</p><h2><b>The Giants got their shortstop of the future, and he’s thrilled to be in San Francisco</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Willy-Adames-and-Buster-Posey.jpg"><figcaption>Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“He’s a unique connector of people,” Posey said, referencing insights from Craig Counsell, Adames’ former manager in Milwaukee. “To win championships, you need personalities like Willy’s. He plays with energy, he plays with joy, and I know our fans are going to be thrilled to watch him compete on a daily basis.”</p><p>Adames echoed that sentiment, sharing how his upbringing shaped his approach to the game and to life. “For me, it comes first to be a great human being,” he said. “I’m really proud of just being the same guy every day, to be kind, and to give love back to people because there’s a lot of hate out there.”</p><p>The Giants have struggled to find consistency at shortstop in recent years, but Melvin believes that problem is now firmly in the past. “It’s not a problem now,” the manager quipped. Adames’ arrival gives San Francisco both a reliable defensive presence and a power bat in the heart of their lineup.</p><p>Melvin, who has admired Adames’ game from afar, highlighted the energy he brings every day. “It always looked like every day was opening day to him,” Melvin said. “That enthusiasm when your best players are like that… it’s contagious.”</p><p>Pulling on the Giants jersey for the first time, Adames admitted he felt a bit nervous, but it didn’t take long for him to settle in. “It looks amazing,” he said with a smile, donning the team’s cream-colored uniform and black cap.</p><p>With Posey leading the organization, Melvin at the helm, and Adames now a cornerstone of the roster, the Giants are banking on this partnership bringing championships back to the Bay. For Adames, it’s the start of an exciting new chapter—and one he’s ready to embrace wholeheartedly.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Willy Adames gets direct to the point about Giants direction under Buster Posey

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/willy-adames-corbin-burnes-message-will-fire-up-giants-fans');   ga('set', 'title', 'Willy Adames’ Corbin Burnes message will fire up Giants fans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-Willy-Adames-Corbin-Burnes-message-will-fire-up-SF-fans.jpg"></figure><h1>Willy Adames’ Corbin Burnes message will fire up Giants fans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T13:04:20-08:00">December 12th, 1:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T19:07:04-08:00">December 12th, 7:07pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Newly signed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract">San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames</a> is already making waves in the Bay Area, and not just for what he plans to do on the field. During his introductory press conference, Adames delivered a powerful message that will fire up Giants fans — and perhaps <a href="https://x.com/pavlovicnbcs/status/1867294014426558525?s=46&amp;t=95WTD_E3Gb45ZExxvE_Gmw" rel="noopener">serve as a rallying cry for the offseason.</a></p><p>When asked about his former Milwaukee Brewers teammate Corbin Burnes, Adames said he hadn’t spoken to the ace yet but added, “I will definitely give him a call later,” according to Alex Pavlovic. With Burnes being one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, Giants fans will take note of Adames’ subtle pitch to bring his former teammate to San Francisco.</p><p>Burnes, a former Cy Young winner and one of the best pitchers in baseball, would elevate an already promising Giants rotation that features Logan Webb and new addition Robbie Ray. Adames’ comment suggests <a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1867293470387581344" rel="noopener">he’s committed to winning</a> in San Francisco and willing to help recruit the pieces needed to do so.</p><h2><b>Willy Adames brings the spark the Giants lacked in recent seasons</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Willy-Adames-and-Buster-Posey.jpg"><figcaption>Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Adames didn’t stop there. During the same press conference, he looked directly at <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-buster-posey-possible-madison-bumgarner-return">Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey.</a> He said, “Hopefully, we can win a few championships like you did,” per Bob Nightengale.</p><p>That sentiment speaks volumes about the 29-year-old shortstop’s mentality as he begins his tenure with the Giants. For a fan base hungry to return to the glory days of their early 2010s dynasty, these words are music to their ears.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did and that's one of the main reasons I'm here."</p><p>– Willy Adames to Buster Posey during his <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SFGiants</a> introductory press conference <a href="https://t.co/0ziNariW3F">pic.twitter.com/0ziNariW3F</a></p><p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1867294055635595563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Adames joins the Giants after signing a franchise-record seven-year, $182 million deal, a testament to the team’s faith in his ability to be a cornerstone player. The shortstop is coming off a career year with the Brewers, where he hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs, making him one of the most consistent power hitters in the league.</p><p>While Adames’ on-field production is exciting enough, his leadership and championship aspirations could be just as impactful. The Giants have made it clear they’re intent on building a contender, and Adames’ arrival is just the beginning. His willingness to reach out to Burnes and his pointed comments about championships show that he’s already thinking big.</p><p>For Giants fans, the message is clear: Adames isn’t here to settle for mediocrity. He’s here to win — and he’s not afraid to help build the roster that will make it happen. With Adames now leading the charge, all eyes turn to whether the Giants can make the moves necessary to turn his vision into reality.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Willy Adames’ Corbin Burnes message will fire up Giants fans

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-giants-blue-jays-leading-pack-corbin-burnes-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Giants, Blue Jays leading the pack for Corbin Burnes in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Giants-Blue-Jays-leading-the-pack-for-Corbin-Burnes-in-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Giants, Blue Jays leading the pack for Corbin Burnes in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T07:25:52-08:00">December 12th, 7:25am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T08:38:18-08:00">December 12th, 8:38am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Orioles</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Max Fried’s signing with the New York Yankees, Corbin Burnes is the undisputed top pitcher on the MLB free agency market, which very well may create a bidding war. And the Toronto Blue Jays and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-blue-jays-giants-emerge-as-front-runners-for-corbin-burnes">San Francisco Giants are reportedly willing</a> to pay a hefty price to sign Burnes.</p><p>But while Toronto and San Francisco are in on the chase for Burnes, they’re going to have some stiff competition.</p><p>“The Giants and Blue Jays are among a half-dozen teams showing significant interest in star right-hander Corbin Burnes, and new Giants baseball president Buster Posey met late Tuesday with Burnes’ agent, Scott Boras,” <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/11/sports/giants-and-blue-jays-making-strong-push-for-corbin-burnes/" rel="noopener">according to the</a> New York Post’s Jon Heyman. “Both these teams put in outstanding efforts to sign big-time players, and while both have experienced some struggles in that area, it’s possible the Giants could hold an allure for Burnes, a California native who’s spent his career in Milwaukee and Baltimore.</p><p>“The Jays, at many times the dollar leader in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, also are in the mix.”</p><p>Heyman also wrote <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-orioles-eyeing-dylan-cease-trade-with-corbin-burnes-reunion-looking-unlikely">that the Baltimore Orioles</a>, to whom Burnes was traded to by the Milwaukee Brewers before the 2024 season, are also interested in bringing back Burnes. In his lone season with Baltimore, Burnes earned All-Star and All-MLB First Team honors after a year in which he posted a 2.92 ERA, 181 strikeouts, 3.55 FIP, and 1.096 WHIP.</p><p>The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, both of whom were reportedly interested in Burnes <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-emerge-major-threat-sign-max-fried">and Fried</a>, “presumably” have “diminished” interest in Burnes now, according to Heyman. After missing out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, New York managed to sign Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal, while Boston executed a trade with the Chicago White Sox to acquire Garrett Crochet in exchange for several top prospects.</p><h2><b>Corbin Burnes signing would be huge coup for Giants, Blue Jays</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11-07-24-orioles-image.jpeg"><figcaption>© Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the Giants were reportedly expected to take a step back in terms of spending this offseason, they already landed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-giants-182-million-willy-adames-contract">Willy Adames with a $182 million deal</a>. Not nabbing Burnes for Toronto, though, would feel like another big loss.</p><p>Toronto was among the top teams in pursuing Shohei Ohtani a year ago but swung and missed on the two-way superstar, with matters being made worse by a flight-tracking saga that got Jays fans’ hopes up. The Blue Jays, as Heyman mentioned, were also bidding to sign Soto this offseason. But they again were denied a superstar; Soto eventually agreed to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.</p><p>Last season, Jose Berrios (3.60 ERA, 2.2 WAR) and Bowden Francis (3.30 ERA, 1.6 WAR) anchored Toronto’s starting rotation, while the Giants heavily relied on Logan Webb (3.47 ERA, 3.7 WAR) and Blake Snell (3.12 ERA, 2.1 WAR), the latter of whom signed this offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Giants, Blue Jays leading the pack for Corbin Burnes in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-blue-jays-giants-emerge-as-front-runners-for-corbin-burnes');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Blue Jays, Giants emerge as ‘front-runners’ for Corbin Burnes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Blue-Jays-Giants-emerge-as-front-runners-for-Corbin-Burnes.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Blue Jays, Giants emerge as ‘front-runners’ for Corbin Burnes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T21:14:14-08:00">December 10th, 9:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T21:14:14-08:00">December 10th, 9:14pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A few of the top free-agent starting pitchers are already off the market, with lefties Blake Snell and Max Fried signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, respectively, on deals that amount to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-max-fried-ny-agree-8-year-218-million-deal-free-agency">total of $390 million</a>. These deals should put a huge smile on Corbin Burnes’ face, as not only is he the undisputed best available starter on the market, he is also going to command an even heftier sum considering his durability, consistency, and his age (he is younger than both Snell and Fried).</p><p>To that end, two teams have emerged as the favorite to get Burnes’ signature on the dotted line. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/max-fried-signing-with-yankees-analysis" rel="noopener">are the “front-runners”</a> for the 30-year-old starting pitcher, with the two ballclubs preparing to offer a huge contract that could be worth as much as $240 million.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-shohei-ohtani-dodgers-blue-jays-interest">Blue Jays and Giants</a> have been among the most willing spenders over the past few offseasons, with both teams being prominent suitors for Shohei Ohtani last year. And with these two teams desperately needing a major talent infusion to fuel their playoff hopes after finishing below .500 and missing the postseason in 2024, being atop the Burnes sweepstakes queue makes total sense.</p><p>If anything, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/blue-jays-news-finalizing-andres-gimenez-trade-with-guardians">Blue Jays may have more financial wiggle room</a> considering that they’ve been whiffing on their major targets in recent seasons. The Giants, meanwhile, recently signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract to be their new franchise shortstop, a significant commitment that could affect the money they have for other free-agent pursuits. But if they were one of the most serious contenders for Ohtani last year, then it might not be the best idea to question their financial capabilities.</p><h2><b>Blue Jays and Giants duke it out for Corbin Burnes’ signature</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Corbin-Burnes.jpg"><figcaption>Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There may be some concerns surrounding Corbin Burnes and his viability as an ace for the long-term. His strikeout rate has been declining since 2021, although the good news is that he’s inducing more ground balls and allowing less hard contact, helping make up for the apparent decline in his stuff.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-monster-offer-expected-corbin-burnes-al-east-bidding-war-heats-up">Burnes’ best asset as an ace</a> is his ability to be a workhorse; he has pitched 590 innings over the past three seasons, starting in 97 games since 2022. For the Blue Jays and Giants, two teams that experienced significant injury problems last year, that durability will come in handy. It will boil down to which team is willing to throw the most amount of money to the 30-year-old righty.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Blue Jays, Giants emerge as ‘front-runners’ for Corbin Burnes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-logan-webb-hilarious-response-san-francisco-signing-willy-adames');   ga('set', 'title', 'Logan Webb’s hilarious response to Giants signing Willy Adames');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Logan-Webbs-hilarious-response-to-San-Francisco-signing-Willy-Adames.jpg"></figure><h1>Logan Webb’s hilarious response to Giants signing Willy Adames</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T19:46:52-08:00">December 10th, 7:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T19:46:52-08:00">December 10th, 7:46pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants signed Willy Adames to kick off MLB free agency. He <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-giants-182-million-willy-adames-contract">signed a seven-year, $182 million deal</a> after a great season with the Milwaukee Brewers. He now joins a team that had only 80 wins last season but has high expectations for 2025. Giants ace Logan Webb texted Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle <a href="https://x.com/susanslusser/status/1866627492666077616" rel="noopener">about the</a> addition of Willy Adames and had a funny quip welcoming his new teammate.</p><p>“Couldn’t be more excited to play with Willy,” Webb wrote, per Slusser on X, formerly Twitter. “From the first time I played against him I knew that was a guy I’d love to share a field with some day. Plus it means I won’t be giving up any more homers to him.”</p><p>Webb isn’t kidding either, as Adames had decent success against him with the Brewers. He is 4-9 with two homers and three RBIs in his career <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/willy-adames-vs-logan-webb-log" rel="noopener">against his new</a> ace, per StatMuse. It’s not just Webb that Adames has crushed in his career. He has had success hitting in Oracle Park, something not everyone can say. He hit .321 with two homers and nine RBIs in 16 games as the visitor against the Giants.</p><p>The Giants had their struggles last year but are returning a solid core on offense and a deep rotation. What can Willy Adames add to the team this year?</p><h2><b>The Giants are hoping for more greatness from Willy Adames</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Willy-Adames-with-Milwaukee-Brewers-2.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Adames had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, posting a 3.1 bWAR and 118 OPS+ while playing shortstop. The Brewers were very upfront about him exiting their price range after the excellent season. So Adames went to a big spender who had lost out on big free agents in the past. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-latest-juan-soto-update-will-frustrate-giants-fans">Giants did not put their hat in the Juan Soto</a> ring and came out with the market’s best shortstop while everyone’s eyes were trained on New York.</p><p>The least sustainable stat from Adames’ 2024 season was his 21 stolen bases. He had never posted more than eight in a season before that, so Giants fans should not expect that to continue. The great defense, home-run power, and high average are staples of his game.</p><p>The Giants have the impossible task of sharing a division with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They spent over one billion dollars last offseason and won the World Series in response. Adding Adames does not bring them on the same level as their bitter rivals but it should make the division race a touch tighter.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Logan Webb’s hilarious response to Giants signing Willy Adames

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-buster-posey-shuts-down-camilo-doval-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants president Buster Posey shuts down possible Camilo Doval trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-Buster-Posey-shuts-down-possible-Camilo-Doval-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>Giants president Buster Posey shuts down possible Camilo Doval trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-10T11:28:59-08:00">December 10th, 11:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-10T11:29:59-08:00">December 10th, 11:29am</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-camilo-doval-offseason-trade-interest">Giants are not looking</a> for a new high-leverage reliever. Right-handed hurler <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-camilo-doval-reaction-humbling-experience">Camilo Doval posted a hefty 4.88 ERA</a>  as their closer last season, but team president Buster Posey still believes in him.</p><p>Posey brought up Doval to local media <a href="https://x.com/susanslusser/status/1866219129952199049" rel="noopener">without being asked</a>, via The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser.</p><p>“Unprompted, Buster Posey when talking to the local media, says he’s not looking to move Camilo Doval. He says he still sees him as a shutdown-type reliever and valuable,” Slusser said. “(Which is why so many teams do have interest – but seems like it’s going to be tough to get him.)”</p><p>Doval’s rough 2024 campaign came a year after he led the NL with 39 saves, made the All-Star team, and finished with a stingy 2.93 ERA. However, the 27-year-old’s had an issue with blowing saves since entering the league in 2021, converting just 92 out of 111 (83%) of his total opportunities. He recorded 23 saves out of 28 opportunities (82.1%) in 2024, ranking well behind top closers like Mason Miller  (90.3%) and Emmanuel Clase (94%).</p><p>San Francisco briefly sent Doval down to Triple-A in August in hopes of helping him reset mentally, but he registered a 5.40 ERA over his final 16 outings after being recalled. However, the Dominican international has still garnered plenty of interest in the trade market, which is why Posey addressed the situation unprompted.</p><h2><b>Buster Posey is ‘bullish’ on Camilo Doval returning to Giants</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-Camilo-Doval.jpg"><figcaption>© Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Doval may not close if and when he does return to San Francisco in 2025, as right-hander Ryan Walker had a better season than him. The 29-year-old posted a 10-4 record across 76 appearances, with a 1.91 ERA, 21 holds, and 10 saves out of 14 opportunities. However, Doval could still be the Giants’ setup man.</p><p>Posey is <a href="https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/camilo-doval-trade-rumors-buster-posey/1811806/" rel="noopener">excited to speak with</a> Doval this offseason, via NBC Sports’ Alex Pavlovic.</p><p>“I want to say on Doval, I’m pretty bullish on him coming back,” the club legend said. “This guy has got the potential to be a lockdown piece. We’ve seen it, right? He’s got nearly 100 saves in the big leagues and that doesn’t happen by accident. I’m excited to have a chance to talk with him. Obviously, getting to catch him, I know the personality a little bit. I have belief in him being important for us.”</p><p>After signing shortstop Willy Adames to the largest guaranteed deal in Giants history (seven years, $182 million), it looks like Posey is looking to continue buying rather than selling in his first year as team president.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants president Buster Posey shuts down possible Camilo Doval trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-giants-emerge-major-threat-sign-max-fried');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Giants emerge as major threat to sign Max Fried');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Giants-emerge-as-major-threat-to-sign-Max-Fried.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Giants emerge as major threat to sign Max Fried</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T15:47:38-08:00">December 9th, 3:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T15:47:38-08:00">December 9th, 3:47pm</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract">Giants have already made a major free agency splash</a>, landing Willy Adames on a seven-year, $182 million contract. However, Adames isn’t the only big fish the Giants are trying to reel in.</p><p>San Francisco <a href="https://x.com/Buster_ESPN/status/1866255627699290403" rel="noopener">has been deemed a serious contender</a> to land Max Fried, via Buster Olney of ESPN. While he isn’t garnering interest from all the major east coast teams, executives are beginning to wonder if he would prefer an offer from the Giants over them.</p><p>Olney did not note if San Francisco has already made that offer. However, the fact that player and team are linked shows that there is at least some form of interest. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-giants-182-million-willy-adames-contract">Giants have already proven they’re willing to spend</a>. Adding Fried to the mix would only make San Francisco’s playoff hopes more legitimate.</p><p>Fried has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Atlanta Braves. Over 168 total games, the left-hander has put up a 73-36 record, 3.07 ERA and 863/246 K/BB ratio. He is a three-time Gold Glover, a two-time All-Star and a World Series champion.</p><p>One of Fried’s two All-Star appearances came during his most recent 2024 campaign. He recorded a 3.25 ERA and a 166/57 K/BB ratio. His performance came over 29 games, bucking the injury problems he dealt with a year prior. Now, Fried is ready to cash in.</p><p>The Giants could certainly use the pitching help. Logan Webb is a star, leading the league with 204.2 innings pitching while putting up a 3.47 ERA and 172/50 K/BB ratio. However, Blake Snell has departed to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Adding Fried would once again give San Francisco a dominant one-two punch atop their lineup.</p><p>Now that Juan Soto has signed, Max Fried is one of the biggest players teams will turn their attention to. The Giants are looking to get to the front of the line and continue their explosive offseason. They’ll have competition, but San Francisco means business early in MLB free agency.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Giants emerge as major threat to sign Max Fried

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grading-giants-182-million-willy-adames-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grading Giants’ $182 million Willy Adames contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Grading-Giants-182-million-Willy-Adames-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>Grading Giants’ $182 million Willy Adames contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-09T01:06:37-08:00">December 9th, 1:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-09T01:06:37-08:00">December 9th, 1:06am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract"> San Francisco Giants made waves this offseason by signing shortstop Willy Adames</a> to a franchise-record seven-year, $182 million contract. With this move, the Giants secured the best shortstop on the free-agent market and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/willy-adames-could-end-bay-area-drought-with-feat-not-seen-since-barry-bonds">a player who can immediately elevate their lineup</a>. This deal isn’t just a splash; it’s a statement that the Giants are serious about returning to playoff contention.</p><p>By landing Adames, the Giants have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-legend-brandon-crawford-officially-announces-retirement">filled a gaping hole at shortstop left by Brandon Crawford</a>, whose 13-season tenure at the position was defined by defensive brilliance and leadership. And yes, Tyler Fitzgerald was the Giants’ shortstop, but he’s more of a second-base type player. Adames represents a new era, bringing a potent mix of power, speed, and leadership. Coming off a career year with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024—where he smashed 32 home runs, drove in 112 RBIs, and stole 21 bases—Adames is the exact type of player the Giants needed to reignite their offense.</p><h2><b>A giant win for the Giants’ financial flexibility</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Willy-Adames_c16875.jpg"><figcaption>Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The $182 million contract breaks down to an <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/18509/willy-adames" rel="noopener">average annual value</a> (AAV) of $26 million, which is a smart allocation of resources for the Giants. To put this in perspective, the deal is slightly less expensive than the failed $26.9 million AAV deal the Giants agreed to with Carlos Correa in 2022. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-complete-shock-carlos-correa-details-unreal-moment-san-francisco-backed-out-350-million-deal">Correa’s 13-year, $350 million contract fell apart</a> due to concerns over his medicals, but the Giants have now secured a player who offers comparable offensive upside at a more manageable commitment.</p><p>Adames also brings a better power profile than Correa, evidenced by his 32 home runs in 2024, which tied a major league record for three-run homers in a season with 13. His ability to slug will help the Giants break their two-decade-long drought of not having a player hit 30 or more home runs in a season. Not since Barry Bonds in 2004 has a Giant eclipsed that mark—a staggering statistic that highlights the urgency of this signing.</p><p>Critics might point to Adames’ defensive regression in 2024, where he posted -16 defensive runs saved and committed 20 errors, as a potential red flag. While these metrics suggest his glove wasn’t as reliable last season, Adames’ athleticism and versatility still make him a valuable asset. If his defense doesn’t rebound, he could eventually transition to third base—a move that would still maximize his offensive contributions while minimizing potential defensive liabilities.</p><p>Regardless of these concerns, Adames is still only 29 years old and in <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-free-agent-tracker-willy-adames-lands-with-giants-tyler-oneill-joins-orioles-as-juan-soto-more-wait/" rel="noopener">the prime of his career</a>. His contract, which includes a $22 million signing bonus, is structured in a way that should give the Giants flexibility to continue building around him while not being hamstrung financially down the road.</p><h2><b>The Giants can’t stop now, need to add Corbin Burnes, other free agents</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Corbin-Burnes-2.jpg"><figcaption>Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As monumental as the Adames signing is, the Giants’ offseason work isn’t done. To truly capitalize on this deal and become a legitimate contender, they need to address two critical areas: their starting rotation and first base.</p><p>The Giants’ rotation has solid pieces in Logan Webb and the emerging Kyle Harrison, but they need an ace to anchor the staff. Enter Corbin Burnes. The former Baltimore Orioles ace and NL Cy Young winner would instantly transform the Giants’ rotation from good to great. A potential reunion with Adames could make <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-targeting-corbin-burnes-after-losing-blake-snell-to-dodgers">San Francisco an appealing destination for Burnes,</a> and the Giants <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/giants-urged-sign-corbin-burnes-after-landing-willy-adames/285a43df19f09e18066be870" rel="noopener">should aggressively pursue him.</a></p><p>Adding Burnes would not only bolster the rotation but also send a clear message to the rest of the league that the Giants are ready to compete at the highest level. While Burnes is projected to command a deal in the range of six years and $180 million, the Giants have the financial resources to make it happen, especially considering the savings they achieved with Adames’ deal compared to other free agents in recent years.</p><p>Equally pressing is the need to upgrade at first base. While LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores have been serviceable, neither offers the power or consistency needed at the position. The Giants should target either Pete Alonso or Christian Walker in free agency.</p><p>Alonso, a perennial power threat, would immediately provide the lineup with a fearsome middle-of-the-order bat to complement Adames. Meanwhile, Walker, coming off a career-best season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, offers a slightly less expensive but still impactful option. Adding a slugger at first base would ensure the Giants have a lineup capable of competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the NL West.</p><h2><b>A new era for the Giants</b></h2><p>The signing of Willy Adames signals a shift in the Giants’ approach. After years of being cautious in free agency, the team is finally making bold moves to compete with the heavyweights in the National League. While Adames alone won’t solve all their problems, he is a cornerstone piece that gives the Giants a strong foundation for future success.</p><p>Grade: <b>A+</b></p><p>The Giants deserve top marks for securing one of the best players on the market at a reasonable cost. Adames not only fills a critical need but also positions the team to make further moves that could transform them into serious contenders. Now, it’s up to the front office to keep the momentum going. A rotation led by Corbin Burnes, a lineup featuring Adames and a slugger like Pete Alonso or Christian Walker, and a retooled roster ready to compete—this is how the Giants can turn a great signing into a championship-caliber offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grading Giants’ $182 million Willy Adames contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/sonny-gray-ranking-best-trade-destinations');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking best Sonny Gray trade destinations');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ranking-best-Sonny-Gray-trade-destinations-as-rumors-swirl.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking best Sonny Gray trade destinations</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-07T21:06:24-08:00">December 7th, 9:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-07T21:06:49-08:00">December 7th, 9:06pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The St. Louis Cardinals will make a huge decision about their immediate future this winter. They can either keep their roster largely intact and try to reach the ceiling they fell short of in 2024, or the front office can <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-cardinals-surprising-nolan-arenado-sonny-gray-trade-stance">commit to a full rebuild</a> for the first time in ages. If the organization chooses the second option, Sonny Gray is one of several players who will likely be wearing a new uniform next year.</p><p>The veteran right-handed starting pitcher was a central part of last offseason’s retooling plan, but the higher-ups could be persuaded to quickly move him since the Cards managed only 83 wins in his first year under contract. Gray has a no-trade clause and is due to make $25 million in 2025 and $35 million in 2026, so finding an appealing deal is an unenviable job.</p><p>Though, if president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is willing to compromise on either dollars or return value, then <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-reds-to-aggressively-pursue-trade-for-75-million-cardinals-pitcher">trading Gray is certainly feasible</a>. Several teams will view him as a stabilizing presence in their rotation who can help them reach October. His age will naturally be the source of some quibbling at the negotiation table (turned 35 in November), but he should be a coveted asset after recording 203 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings pitched. Who is the best fit, though?</p><p>Gray’s underwhelming run with the New York Yankees (4.51 ERA in 41 games) drew him the reputation of melting in a major market. Fair or not, that label will resurface as his name becomes more mired in trade rumors. We will inevitably consider it as well while we sort out his best potential destinations.</p><p>Bear in mind, however, that the teams most likely to invest in this aging talent will probably be encircled by fervid fans and substantial pressure.</p><h2><b>The Mets have the dough to accommodate a Sonny Gray trade<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Steve-Cohen.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After lamenting Gray’s first foray in the most prominent sports market, I am immediately going to float New York as a landing spot. He is not the same man he was in 2017. Who is, right? The three-time All-Star and former Cy Young runner-up knew no other MLB home besides the Oakland Athletics when he donned the Pinstripes all those years ago.</p><p>He has played for three franchises since then, embodying a commanding mix of experience and composure. Gray can handle the heat this time around, specifically as a member of the New York Mets. The lights are not quite as bright, and the ridicule is not as loud in Queens.</p><p>His responsibilities would be bigger, however. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/athletics-news-luis-severino-decision-sign-with-athletics">With Luis Severino gone</a>, and Sean Manaea also expected to cash out in free agency, the Mets might require a co-ace alongside Kodai Senga. Rather than overpay for a regression candidate like Manaea, owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns could determine that it is wiser to spring for an established guy like Gray.</p><p>The 2011 first-round draft pick has seemingly procured a steady floor for himself since being traded from the Yankees. His 3.51 career ERA and track record of adapting to a new environment should be attractive selling points to a ballclub that will face reasonably high expectations and reasonably high roster turnover entering 2025.</p><h2><b>Gray is a good fit for the Giants</b></h2><p>The Farhan Zaidi era was defined by an inability to catch the big fish in free agency. With the World Series legitimacy that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-buster-posey-shockingly-takes-over-farhan-zaidi">Buster Posey brings to the front office</a>, the San Francisco Giants must establish themselves as an undeniable destination to available star players. They cannot be snubbed by Gray should a potential trade package arise.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-blake-snell-stacked-admission-signing-la">Blake Snell is now pitching elsewhere</a> in the division, which should motivate Posey to aggressively pursue another high-quality hurler before winter’s end. The franchise’s identity is tied to its starting rotation, something the three-time champion will want to emphasize since he helped formulate that exact blueprint during the 2010s. Gray may not be a perfect replacement for Snell, but he is an ideal option to pair next to fellow righty Logan Webb at the top of the staff.</p><p>Furthermore, the Tennessee native shared some good times with San Francisco’s manager. Bob Melvin served as Gray’s skipper in Oakland for the first four and a half years of his MLB career; ergo, there might be a special bond that exists between the two men. Their prior history could be a boon to the Giants’ clubhouse, as Gray is living proof of the success the Melvin model can achieve.</p><p>The 12-year pitcher has been part of a Bay Area franchise that has experienced unforeseen success before, so how appropriate would it be for him to contribute to a San Francisco resurgence when national attention is fixed elsewhere in the NL West?</p><h2><b>The Blue Jays might get antsy</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sonny-Gray-on-August-12-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Much like the Giants, the Blue Jays occasionally wind up being losers in a superstar sweepstakes. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-shohei-ohtani-blue-jays-espn-reporter">failed to land Shohei Ohtani</a> last year (pun intended) and are not anticipated to be the victorious suitors in the Juan Soto pursuit this winter. A failure to sign or acquire a premium talent will compel fans to revisit the club’s current infrastructure, and that is not a good thing for ownership.</p><p>Toronto’s surprising allegiance to both general manager Ross Atkins and skipper John Schneider is much tougher to comprehend if significant personnel upgrades are not made. The Jays’ most glaring issue in the pitching staff was the bullpen (second-worst ERA in MLB), but the starting rotation is undeniably in need of some sprucing up, too.</p><p>Considering that 35-year-old Chris Bassitt and 33-year-old Kevin Gausman will both celebrate birthdays in early 2025, it may be ill-advised to obtain the rights to the aging Sonny Gray. Again, though, there is an unbearable sense of urgency permeating the Rogers Centre. If the front office opts to hang onto pillars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, it is reasonable to surmise a proactive offseason.</p><p>The Blue Jays will presumably feel restless <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-blue-jays-red-sox-juan-soto-smokescreen">if they miss out on Soto</a>, leading Atkins to possibly explore his options in the trade market. Committing to the aforementioned second-generation stars would incentivize the organization to maximize its short-term contention window, or rather re-open it. Gray can oblige the Toronto brass by greatly lengthening its rotation. An additional starter who can reach 160 innings will carry significant weight during the long MLB campaign.</p><p>His hypothetical arrival could also serve as the mandatory gesture the city demands in order to feel somewhat upbeat about the Blue Jays’ immediate prospects.</p><h2><b>The Rangers may want to reload for 2025</b></h2><p>We are going to stay in the American League for the conclusion of this list and highlight a team that is a more logical trade partner for the Cardinals than most people might think. The Texas Rangers are only 13 months removed from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-mlb-world-goes-crazy-after-texas-survives-diamondbacks-for-world-series-title">winning their first World Series championship</a>. That type of long-awaited breakthrough could convince some owners to revel in the allotted grace period for a bit, but Ray Davis did not assemble this roster to be a one-hit wonder.</p><p>With Corey Seager and Marcus Semien each locked up for the next several years, Texas’ reasonable course of action is to launch itself back into the playoff picture. Such an objective is not feasible until president of baseball ops Chris Young replenishes the starting staff.</p><p>Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer, two-time All-Star Nathan Eovaldi and underrated southpaw Andrew Heaney are all free agents and Jacob deGrom is a constant injury risk. Bruce Bochy is clamoring for some stability in the top part of his rotation. Gray, whose roots are in the South, could be the adhesive that allows the Rangers to piece together a respectable unit on the mound.</p><p>Fans have seen what can happen when this organization hunts for pitching. One trustworthy arm could ensure that 2023 represents more than just a nice story for Arlington.</p><p>Wherever Sonny Gray ends up in 2025, he better make it count. The accomplished starter does not have much time left to be a part of something truly special before he hangs up his cleats for good.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking best Sonny Gray trade destinations

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/willy-adames-could-end-bay-area-drought-with-feat-not-seen-since-barry-bonds');   ga('set', 'title', 'Willy Adames could end Bay Area drought with feat not seen since Barry Bonds');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-Willy-Adames-could-end-Bay-Area-drought-with-feat-not-seen-since-Barry-Bonds.jpg"></figure><h1>Willy Adames could end Bay Area drought with feat not seen since Barry Bonds</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-07T19:25:42-08:00">December 7th, 7:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-07T19:30:02-08:00">December 7th, 7:30pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-jorge-soler-barry-bonds-signing-san-francisco">San Francisco Giants haven’t seen a player hit 30 home runs in a season since Barry Bonds</a> smashed 45 dingers in 2004. That drought might finally end with the arrival of shortstop Willy Adames, who brings power and potential to a team struggling to replicate its legendary <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/giants-urged-add-105m-44-home-run-slugger-join-forces-willy-adames-1997263" rel="noopener">slugger’s offensive production.</a></p><p>Adames, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract">who recently agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Giants</a>, is coming off a career-best 32-home run campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. What makes this feat even more tantalizing for San Francisco fans is that 31 of those home runs would have cleared the walls at Oracle Park, <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1865567639432523966" rel="noopener">per Statcast projections</a>. Adames’ ability to translate his power to the Giants’ notoriously pitcher-friendly home field could finally give San Francisco the long ball threat it has been missing for nearly two decades.</p><p>Adding Adames marks the second straight offseason in which the Giants have acquired a slugger on the heels of a 30-home-run season. Last winter, the team signed Jorge Soler, who delivered a solid campaign in 2024. Before Soler’s arrival, the Giants hadn’t signed such a power hitter since Moisés Alou joined the team ahead of the 2005 season. This aggressive approach signals a shift in philosophy for the Giants, who seem intent on bolstering their offense to compete in a power-driven MLB landscape.</p><h2><b>Willy Adames looks to become the first Giants player since 2004 with 30 home runs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/In-line-image-of-Brewers-Willy-Adames.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Adames’ addition also fills a glaring hole left by the retirement of franchise icon Brandon Crawford. While Crawford’s defensive excellence defined the position for over a decade, Adames offers a combination of solid glove work and rare power for a shortstop. Last season, he posted a career-high in RBIs (112) and tied a major league record with 13 three-run home runs, making him one of the most productive middle infielders in the game.</p><p>The Giants’ lineup now features a balanced mix of power and contact hitters, with Adames joining Soler, Thairo Estrada, and a developing core of younger talent. While hitting 30 home runs at Oracle Park is no small feat, Adames’ raw power and proven ability to adapt to various ballparks make him the Giants’ best bet in years to end the drought.</p><p>As the 2025 season approaches, fans in San Francisco have plenty of reasons to believe that the long wait for a 30-home-run season could finally come to an end. And if Adames’ recent track record is any indication, it won’t be a matter of if but when he’ll etch his name alongside Bonds in the Giants’ record books.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Willy Adames could end Bay Area drought with feat not seen since Barry Bonds

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-giants-willy-adames-agree-historic-182-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants, Willy Adames agree to historic $182 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-San-Francisco-Willy-Adames-agree-to-historic-182-million-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>Giants, Willy Adames agree to historic $182 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-07T14:29:44-08:00">December 7th, 2:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-07T15:39:09-08:00">December 7th, 3:39pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-targeting-corbin-burnes-after-losing-blake-snell-to-dodgers">San Francisco Giants have made a major splash this offseason</a>, agreeing to a seven-year, $182 million contract <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-linked-willy-adames-desperate-shortstop-search">with shortstop Willy Adames</a>. The deal, pending a physical, represents <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1865520804810629359" rel="noopener">the largest contract</a> in Giants franchise history, surpassing the $167 million deal previously <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-buster-posey-possible-madison-bumgarner-return">awarded to catcher and current team president Buster Posey.</a></p><p>“BREAKING: Shortstop Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest deal in franchise history, sources tell ESPN. Adames, 29, had a career-best 32 home runs and 112 RBIs in 2024. The deal is pending a physical,” via Jeff Passan on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Adames, 29, was the Giants’ top target this offseason, bolstering a roster aiming for consistent playoff contention. Coming off a career year with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, Adames set personal bests in home runs (32), RBIs (112), and stolen bases (21). His offensive production helped him finish fifth among shortstops in FanGraphs <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/willy-adames/15986/stats?position=SS" rel="noopener">Wins Above Replacement</a> (fWAR) at 4.8.</p><p>This contract solidifies Adames’ status as a cornerstone for the Giants and reflects his standing as one of baseball’s top shortstops. His $26 million average annual value (AAV) is slightly less than that of the Giants’ previous high-profile attempt to sign Carlos Correa in 2022, which infamously fell through.</p><h2><b>Willy Adames, Giants agree on a historic deal adding a star to the lineup</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Willy-Adames-with-Milwaukee-Brewers_449c3c.jpg"><figcaption>Stan Szeto-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Adames will step into the shoes left by Giants legend Brandon Crawford, who anchored the shortstop position for 13 seasons. Known for his power and clutch hitting, Adames brings a new dynamic to a lineup that has struggled for consistent offense in recent years. Over his seven-year MLB career, he has slashed .248/.322/.444 with 150 home runs, 472 RBIs, and 51 stolen bases.</p><p>Originally signed by the Detroit Tigers, Adames was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays before making his MLB debut in 2018. He rose to prominence with the Brewers, earning respect as a clutch performer and team leader.</p><p>While Adames’ offensive production is undisputed, his defense took a significant step back in 2024. He recorded -16 defensive runs saved and zero outs above average, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5944038/2024/12/07/san-francisco-giants-willy-adames-contract/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mlbtw&amp;source=mlbtw" rel="noopener">along with 20 errors</a>—the fourth most in MLB. These metrics have raised questions about his long-term viability at shortstop with some evaluators suggesting a potential move to third base.</p><p>The $182 million contract is the third-largest free-agent deal ever signed by a Dominican-born player, trailing only Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano. Adames now joins a Giants team with high expectations after a decade of rebuilding. The deal also includes a signing bonus of about $22 million.</p><p>As San Francisco continues to eye other major moves this offseason, including the pursuit of Juan Soto, Adames’ signing marks a pivotal step toward building a competitive roster. For now, the Giants have landed a power-hitting infielder still in his prime, ready to take the next step in his career on the West Coast.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants, Willy Adames agree to historic $182 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-matt-chapman-willing-make-move-sf-ha-seong-kim');   ga('set', 'title', 'Matt Chapman willing to make move if Giants get Ha-Seong Kim');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Giants-news-Matt-Chapman-willing-to-make-move-if-SF-gets-Ha-Seong-Kim-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Matt Chapman willing to make move if Giants get Ha-Seong Kim</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-06T06:10:22-08:00">December 6th, 6:10am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-06T11:17:59-08:00">December 6th, 11:17am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants have a new front office looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season. A bright spot was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-important-message-buster-posey-matt-chapman-151-million-contract">Matt Chapman, who signed a long-term extension</a> during his first year in San Francisco. He won another Gold Glove at third base, his fifth in seven seasons. The Giants need a shortstop and may get Ha-Seong Kim in free agency. But he won’t be ready for opening day. Chapman <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5973372/2024/12/05/matt-chapman-giants-shortstop-ha-seong-kim/" rel="noopener">is willing to</a> save the day, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.</p><p>“One problem for the San Francisco Giants if they sign free agent Ha-Seong Kim is that they would remain without a shortstop until Kim recovered from shoulder surgery,” Rosenthal reported.</p><p>“Enter Matt Chapman. The Giants third baseman has told club officials he would be willing to move to short until Kim returned, one of numerous scenarios club officials are considering as they seek creative ways to reshape their roster, according to sources briefed on their discussions.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/padres-news-ha-seong-kim-dealt-crushing-injury-update-before-playoffs">Kim tore the labrum in his right shoulder</a> in August and could return by May, so it would not be a long stint at shortstop. While the Giants need a shortstop, they could piece it together for a month because of a young rookie.</p><h2><b>Giants have a budding star in Tyler Fitzgerald</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Matt-Chapman-with-SF-Giants.jpg"><figcaption>Stan Szeto-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Tyler Fitzgerald was one of the best stories in baseball last season. He was a rookie who played all over the diamond and dominated at the plate, posting a 136 OPS+ in 96 games. He played 71 of those games at shortstop, so it would not be the worst idea to slide him back there. But he could be used to fill many of their other holes.</p><p>Rosenthal floated Fitzgerald’s name as an option to replace Chapman at third in this scenario. He could also be used at second base, with Thairo Estrada likely leaving, and left field while moving Michael Conforto to designated hitter. Fitzgerald’s versatility is his best trait and it could help the Giants next season.</p><p>Kim is a great fit for the Giants as a free-agency signing. The 29-year-old had a solid season for the Padres before getting hurt. While he is not the best shortstop available, he will sign for less money than Willy Adames. The Giants are trying to slash payroll from last year, which is only possible with signings like Kim.</p><p>The Athletic projects his contract at one year, $10 million with performance incentives. If the Giants can get him on that deal, figuring out shortstop for a month would be worth it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Matt Chapman willing to make move if Giants get Ha-Seong Kim

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-roki-sasaki-already-chosen-where-hell-sign');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Roki Sasaki has already chosen where he’ll sign');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Roki-Sasaki-has-already-chosen-where-hell-sign.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Roki Sasaki has already chosen where he’ll sign</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-05T16:24:26-08:00">December 5th, 4:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-05T16:24:26-08:00">December 5th, 4:24pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Dodgers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-padres-strong-position-roki-sasaki-free-agency">anticipation surrounding Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki’s potential move</a> to MLB continues to grow. The Los Angeles Dodgers are emerging as the favorite to secure his services. According to industry sources, Sasaki <a href="https://x.com/BRWalkoff/status/1864746564297642022" rel="noopener">has already decided where he wants to sign</a>, with the Dodgers considered the “most likely” destination.</p><p>“Industry belief is that Roki Sasaki has already chosen where he wants to sign, with the ‘most likely’ choice being the Dodgers, per Buster Olney,” BRWalkoff reported on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-hander, is expected to be posted for MLB free agency soon and officially eligible to sign during the 2025 international signing period, which begins January 15.<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-blake-snell-lands-dodgers-5-year-182-million-deal"> Despite already signing Blake Snell to a five-year deal</a>, the Dodgers remain in pursuit of Sasaki, underscoring their commitment to bolstering their starting rotation.</p><p>The Dodgers have long been speculated as Sasaki’s preferred destination due to their successful track record, geographical location, and ties to Japanese baseball stars. A reunion with 2023 World Baseball Classic teammates Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto could also attract Sasaki to Los Angeles.</p><h2><b>Roki Sasaki appears headed to the Dodgers, who have more pitchers than they know what to do with</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Roki-Sasaki_a11e45.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>ESPN’s Buster Olney compared the situation to Shohei Ohtani’s initial posting process in 2017, saying, “Teams will prepare their pitches and presentations, but there is widespread industry belief—correct or not—that Sasaki has probably already picked a team, and it’s most likely the Dodgers.”</p><p>Unlike unrestricted free agents, Sasaki will be subject to international signing rules, meaning clubs will need to work within allocated bonus pool limits. While the Dodgers had the largest remaining bonus pool for the 2024 period, their advantage resets for 2025, with all teams beginning anew with their respective limits. The Dodgers’ new bonus pool will increase to $5.1 million, giving them plenty of room to compete for Sasaki.</p><p>However, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, has pushed back against the narrative that his client has already made a decision. Wolfe emphasized that all teams would be given equal consideration and expressed frustration over speculation about an unofficial agreement between Sasaki and the Dodgers. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated that any such agreement would prompt a league investigation.</p><p>Sasaki’s potential arrival would mark a major coup for the Dodgers, who continue to position themselves as perennial contenders. Known for his blistering fastball and pinpoint accuracy, Sasaki would complement a rotation that already features ace-level talent in Ohtani, Snell, and Yamamoto. While nothing is set in stone, the belief that Sasaki will don Dodger blue continues to dominate MLB rumors. For now, the baseball world eagerly awaits his official posting and the ensuing bidding war for one of the game’s brightest young stars.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Roki Sasaki has already chosen where he’ll sign

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-why-its-better-for-corbin-burnes-wait-for-juan-soto-sign');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Why it’s better for Corbin Burnes to wait for Juan Soto to sign');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Why-its-better-for-Corbin-Burnes-to-wait-for-Juan-Soto-to-sign-amid-Giants-interest.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Why it’s better for Corbin Burnes to wait for Juan Soto to sign</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-03T22:29:10-08:00">December 3rd, 10:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T22:29:43-08:00">December 3rd, 10:29pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Corbin Burnes has been one of the game’s best pitchers for the last five years, and he has earned that label while playing at an affordable rate for small-market ballclubs. He now has the opportunity to capitalize on his success with a substantial contract in free agency. Though, it might behoove him to be patient this offseason.</p><p>The 2021 National League Cy Young is a highly coveted starting pitcher, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-juan-soto-free-agency-saga-600-million-update">Juan Soto is the headlining act</a> for the upcoming winter extravaganza. Once the 26-year-old outfielder makes his historic decision, Burnes figures to become the new belle of the ball. This is a nightmare scenario for the San Francisco Giants, however, as they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-targeting-corbin-burnes-after-losing-blake-snell-to-dodgers">have strong interest</a> in the right-hander and would love to scoop him up before <a href="https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1864164311561560546" rel="noopener">a bidding war</a> ensues.</p><p>But with super agent Scott Boras in Burnes’ ear (also Soto’s agent), it is difficult to envision a deal getting done swiftly. A revamped front office led by franchise legend Buster Posey may have to shell out more dough than they prefer in order to secure the ace’s services.</p><p>“Burnes likely will have greater leverage if he signs *after* Soto, because by then the Soto runners-up will have more bandwidth to make a big offer,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi posted on X.</p><h2><b>Will Corbin Burnes send the Giants back to the heartbreak hotel?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Corbin-Burnes_73fa03.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Giants fans just got a little queasy. They have seen this saga too many times in recent years, as the organization consistently misses out on its first choice in free agency. San Francisco is not entertaining Soto fantasies, but acquiring Burnes should be a tangible goal. Boras has no intention of making life easy for ownership, though.</p><p>Corbin Burnes posted a 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 32 starts for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, proving he can succeed in both leagues after enjoying a dazzling run with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 30-year-old fits the Giants’ identity quite nicely, but he wants to make his first foray into free agency count.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-giants-set-to-name-new-gm-offseason-underway">Posey and company</a> are at the mercy of Burnes, Boras and Soto. That may sound like a law firm, but in actuality, those could be the names of the men who siphon the remaining amount of enthusiasm this fan base has right now. On second thought, maybe they are a law firm.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Why it’s better for Corbin Burnes to wait for Juan Soto to sign

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-giants-linked-willy-adames-desperate-shortstop-search');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Giants linked to Willy Adames amid ‘desperate’ shortstop search');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Giants-linked-to-Willy-Adames-amid-desperate-shortstop-search.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Giants linked to Willy Adames amid ‘desperate’ shortstop search</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-02T09:00:32-08:00">December 2nd, 9:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-02T09:00:32-08:00">December 2nd, 9:00am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants have a brand new front office after a disappointing 80-win season. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-important-message-buster-posey-matt-chapman-151-million-contract">signed third baseman Matt Chapman</a> to a long-term extension and are looking to add more infielders. Over in Milwaukee, the Brewers clinched the NL Central because of a great season from shortstop Willy Adames. Now, Adames <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5961937/2024/12/02/mlb-free-agency-juan-soto-willy-adames-corbin-burnes/" rel="noopener">could be</a> headed to the Giants in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.</p><p>“[Willy] Adames would be a better fit for the San Francisco Giants, who desperately need a shortstop. As The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported, the Giants anticipate a reduction in payroll,” Rosenthal wrote.</p><p>He continued with alternate options at shortstop, “Perhaps Ha-Seong Kim would be a more suitable fit, coming at a lower price as he recovers from shoulder surgery and without the additional cost of a draft pick (both Adames and Bregman received qualifying offers). But Kim, even when healthy, would not make as much of an offensive impact as Adames.”</p><p>The highlight of the Giants’ season was the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-giants-tyler-fitzgerald-will-upset-pirates-paul-skenes-nl-roy-race">meteoric rise of infielder Tyler Fitzgerald</a>. In 96 games, he posted a 134 OPS+ with 15 homers and 34 RBIs. While he was primarily a shortstop, he moved all over the field and could be used anywhere.</p><h2><b>The Giants are searching for a difference-making shortstop</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Willy-Adames-with-Milwaukee-Brewers-1.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the Giants had a poor season last year, they have the pieces in place to have a solid 2025 campaign. They lost Blake Snell to the Dodgers but still have Logan Webb. Chapman is sticking around and Jung-ho Lee should be healthy. Adding a stellar shortstop like Adames could give them a great chance in the NL Wild Card race.</p><p>The issue for the Giants is their division rival. The Dodgers continue to add to a World Series roster and will be favored to run away with the NL West again. While Adames could be a great member of the offense, it is the defense where he would make the biggest impact. Chapman is one of the best defenders at third base and Adames had a great season at short.</p><p>The only reason that Adames could be a bad fit for the Giants is because of his cost. Buster Posey said that the team is looking to cut payroll this offseason and Adames will be quite expensive. If that is the case, Rosenthal says that Ha-Seong Kim could be a good low-cost option. Either way, the Giants need an infielder and can get one in free agency.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Giants linked to Willy Adames amid ‘desperate’ shortstop search

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/ranking-giants-best-options-to-replace-blake-snell-as-ace');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking Giants’ best options to replace Blake Snell as ace');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ranking-Giants-best-options-to-replace-Blake-Snell-as-ace.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking Giants’ best options to replace Blake Snell as ace</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-28T11:45:25-08:00">November 28th, 11:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-28T11:45:25-08:00">November 28th, 11:45am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Losing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-blake-snell-lands-dodgers-5-year-182-million-deal">Blake Snell to the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers</a> is a tough pill for the San Francisco Giants to swallow. After an inconsistent but ultimately dominant 2024 season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-blake-snells-182-million-dodgers-contract">Snell signed a lucrative five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers</a>, leaving the Giants scrambling to fill the void. While San Francisco boasts some intriguing arms in Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and a budding Kyle Harrison, the rotation lacks the ace-level talent required to contend in a competitive NL West.</p><p>Thankfully, the Giants have options in free agency and the trade market to reinforce their starting rotation. Here’s a look at four potential pitchers the Giants should pursue, ranked by their potential impact and fit with the team.</p><h2><b>Corbin Burnes</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Corbin-Burnes_258dde.jpg"><figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Corbin Burnes represents the ideal target for the Giants. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-giants-targeting-corbin-burnes-after-losing-blake-snell-to-dodgers">The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner</a> has been one of the league’s most consistent performers over the last four seasons. In 2024, Burnes posted a 15-8 record with a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burneco01.shtml" rel="noopener">2.95 ERA</a>, 1.11 WHIP, and 172 strikeouts across 189.1 innings. His ability to eat innings while maintaining elite performance separates him from other top-tier options.</p><p>At 30, Burnes offers a mix of youth and experience that aligns well with the Giants’ goals of immediate competitiveness and long-term sustainability. He’s also a local product, having played college baseball at St. Mary’s, which could make San Francisco an appealing destination for the righty.</p><p>Burnes would undoubtedly command a massive contract, likely surpassing Snell’s $182 million deal. However, his track record of durability and dominance justifies the investment. Pairing Burnes with Logan Webb would give the Giants a dynamic one-two punch atop the rotation, solidifying their status as contenders in the NL West.</p><h2><b>Walker Buehler</b></h2><p>Walker Buehler presents a more unconventional option. Currently a free agent after an injury-plagued stretch with the Dodgers, Buehler could be a high-risk, high-reward signing. When healthy, Buehler has shown ace-caliber stuff, highlighted by his 2.47 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 2021. However, injuries have limited his availability in recent years, making him a gamble.</p><p>The Giants have a history of successfully rehabilitating pitchers, and Buehler could benefit from their expertise. If he regains his form, he has the potential to be a game-changer in San Francisco’s rotation. Adding him would also carry the added bonus of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-walker-buehler-3-best-free-agency-destinations">taking a valuable arm away from the Dodgers</a>, further leveling the playing field in the NL West.</p><p>Signing Buehler would likely come at a lower cost than Burnes or Max Fried, making him an intriguing option if the Giants prefer to spread their resources across multiple areas.</p><h2><b>Max Fried</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Max-Fried_d25086.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Max Fried, another elite option, brings a left-handed compliment to the rotation that Snell vacated. Over the last five seasons, Fried has boasted MLB’s best ERA (2.81), and he continued his stellar performance in 2024 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 172 strikeouts in 192.1 innings.</p><p>At 31, Fried offers experience and consistency, with the ability to perform in high-pressure situations. His playoff pedigree, honed during his time with the Atlanta Braves, would be invaluable for a Giants team looking to make deep postseason runs.</p><p>While Fried may not have the overpowering strikeout numbers of Burnes or Snell, his command and ability to generate weak contact make him an excellent fit for Oracle Park. The Giants’ spacious outfield would amplify Fried’s strengths, and his left-handed presence would provide balance to the rotation.</p><h2><b>Jack Flaherty</b></h2><p>Jack Flaherty, once a rising star with the St. Louis Cardinals, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-jack-flaherty-5-best-free-agency-destinations">has successfully rebuilt his value after a strong 2024 season</a> with the Detroit Tigers, and later the Dodgers after he was acquired at the deadline. Flaherty posted a 13-7 record with a 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts in 162 innings, showing glimpses of the dominance he displayed in 2019 when he finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting.</p><p>At just 29, Flaherty is younger than the other options on this list, giving him more room to grow. His recent success suggests he’s rediscovered the form that made him one of the most exciting young pitchers in baseball.</p><p>Flaherty wouldn’t command as hefty a contract as Burnes or Fried, making him a cost-effective option for the Giants. While he may not have the same upside as Burnes, Flaherty’s potential to be a reliable mid-rotation arm makes him a valuable target, especially if San Francisco opts to pursue multiple starters this offseason.</p><p>The Giants face a pivotal offseason as they attempt to replace Blake Snell and strengthen their rotation. While Snell’s departure stings, it also creates an opportunity for San Francisco to reshape its pitching staff in a way that better aligns with its needs and goals.</p><p>Corbin Burnes represents the best option, offering elite performance, durability, and local ties that make him a perfect fit for the Giants. Max Fried provides a strong alternative with his left-handed dominance and playoff experience. Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty, meanwhile, present intriguing options for the Giants to explore if they’re willing to take calculated risks.</p><p>Regardless of which path they choose, the Giants must act decisively to avoid falling further behind in the NL West arms race. With Burnes, Fried, Buehler, or Flaherty leading the way, San Francisco can continue to build on its contending aspirations in 2025 and beyond.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking Giants’ best options to replace Blake Snell as ace

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/giants-news-giants-legend-brandon-crawford-officially-announces-retirement');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants legend Brandon Crawford officially announces retirement');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SF-legend-Brandon-Crawford-officially-announces-retirement.jpg"></figure><h1>Giants legend Brandon Crawford officially announces retirement</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-27T16:39:30-08:00">November 27th, 4:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-27T16:39:30-08:00">November 27th, 4:39pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After a storied 14-year career, Brandon Crawford, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-marco-luciano-shortstop-brandon-crawford">one of the San Francisco Giants’ most beloved players</a>, has officially announced his retirement from professional baseball. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Crawford reflected on his incredible journey and expressed gratitude for the opportunities and experiences the game gave him.</p><p>Crawford’s career began with a dream that many kids share but few realize: playing for his hometown team. Born in Mountain View, California, and raised in the East Bay, Crawford grew up a die-hard Giants fan. He attended games at Candlestick Park with his family, idolized Giants players, and dreamed of wearing black and orange one day. That dream became a reality when the Giants selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/giants-news-buster-posey-possible-madison-bumgarner-return"> alongside future Hall of Famer Buster Posey</a>.</p><p>In his 13 seasons with the Giants, Crawford played 1,654 games, the most by a shortstop in franchise history. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, Crawford earned four Gold Gloves, three All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger, and several prestigious honors, including the Willie Mac Award and the Lou Gehrig Award. His contributions went beyond individual accolades—he was a vital piece of the Giants’ 2012 and 2014 World Series championship teams, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5KFinSl3B/?img_index=1" rel="noopener">creating unforgettable moments</a> for the fans and franchise alike.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Brandon Crawford was one of the best two-way shortstops of his generation 🧡</p><p>Congrats on a great career, <a href="https://twitter.com/bcraw35?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCraw35</a>. <a href="https://t.co/4TNF6dgYv6">pic.twitter.com/4TNF6dgYv6</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1861922467700166772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Brandon Crawford rides off into the sunset as the best shortstop in Giants history</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Brandon-Crawford.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“Growing up in the Bay Area and going to games at Candlestick, I always dreamed of playing for the San Francisco Giants,” Crawford wrote in his retirement post. “Winning two [World Series titles]? That was beyond my wildest dreams.”</p><p>Crawford’s time in San Francisco was defined by remarkable achievements, including a memorable grand slam in his debut and a franchise-record seven-hit game. Fans will forever remember his clutch performances, such as his grand slam in the 2014 Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh. Giants legend and former teammate Buster Posey lauded Crawford’s impact, saying, “Brandon made his mark in a way few athletes ever do.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">In 30 years, a Brandon Crawford highlight tape is going to re-surface and the youths are gonna be like "how have we never heard of this guy?" <a href="https://t.co/cejCgfntqG">pic.twitter.com/cejCgfntqG</a></p><p>— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyVietti/status/1861925890516766977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>After an illustrious tenure with the Giants, Crawford spent his final season with the St. Louis Cardinals, a chapter he embraced for its unique experiences and opportunities. Though injuries shortened his 2024 season, Crawford cherished the chance to play for another historic franchise and to share the game with his five children. “Baseball has given me, Jalynne, and the kids more than we ever thought possible, and for that we are so thankful,” Crawford wrote.</p><p>The Giants have announced plans to honor Crawford at Oracle Park on April 26, a fitting tribute for one of the greatest shortstops in team history. Though Crawford’s playing days are over, fans can look forward to his continued presence in the Giants organization, potentially in a new role.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“A dream come true”</p><p>The perfect way to describe Brandon Crawford’s career 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/0RwWpDvQeN">pic.twitter.com/0RwWpDvQeN</a></p><p>— SFGiants (@SFGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1861920534369652870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Crawford’s legacy as a smooth defender, clutch performer, and hometown hero will forever be etched in Giants history. As he moves on to the next chapter of his life, he leaves behind a career that far surpassed the dreams of the little boy who once cheered for the Giants at Candlestick Park.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants legend Brandon Crawford officially announces retirement

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-giants-targeting-corbin-burnes-after-losing-blake-snell-to-dodgers');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Giants targeting Corbin Burnes after losing Blake Snell to Dodgers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/0Giants-targeting-Corbin-Burnes-after-losing-Blake-Snell-to-Dodgers0.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Giants targeting Corbin Burnes after losing Blake Snell to Dodgers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-27T06:20:47-08:00">November 27th, 6:20am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-27T06:20:47-08:00">November 27th, 6:20am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants, much like every other team in the NL West, have played fodder to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dominance over the past decade or so. On Tuesday, this worrying trend for the Giants continued, as Blake Snell, in essence, used San Francisco as a stepping stone to secure a long-term deal from the Dodgers in this year’s free agency <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-blake-snells-182-million-dodgers-contract">worth $182 million over five years</a>.</p><p>At first, it looked as though the Giants’ signing of Snell was going to end up being a total disaster. Snell was not just bad on the mound to start the 2024 season, he also went to the injured list on multiple occasions. But the 32-year-old lefty emerged as one of the most unhittable pitchers in the entire league upon his return from the IL in July, and losing him, to a division rival no less, will hurt for the Giants.</p><p>Regardless, the Giants aren’t just about to feel sorry for themselves. Even with Snell now with the Dodgers, the Giants are still looking to compete with the best team in the NL West, as they are now reportedly setting their sights towards signing Corbin Burnes — with Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reporting that the Giants, indeed, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/blake-snell-dodgers-deal-impact-free-agent-pitching?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share" rel="noopener">have “significant interest”</a> in the 30-year-old righty.</p><p>Burnes, however, will command a bigger commitment from the Giants than Snell would have, or at least Feinsand’s sources believe so. And it makes sense as well; Burnes is two years younger, so he’ll be angling for a longer-term contract that will inevitably bump up the deal’s total value above Snell’s.</p><h2><b>Corbin Burnes to form a deadly 1-2 punch with Logan Webb atop the Giants’ rotation?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Corbin-Burnes_73fa03.jpg"></figure><p>The Giants are in dire need of some starting pitching reinforcements especially after the departure of Blake Snell. Last season, the Giants went 14-6 in Snell’s starts, 16-17 in Logan Webb’s starts, and 50-59 otherwise. That simply won’t cut it for a team with lofty contending aspirations.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-corbin-burnes-5-best-free-agency-destinations">Adding Burnes would be a major move</a> that helps address this team’s weakness. But the Giants may need more than Burnes to fix their concerning starting pitching issues.</p><p>At the very least, Burnes is a much more consistent workhorse than Snell is; Snell may be more electric on the mound and he has a higher ceiling thanks to his incredible strikeout ability, but Burnes has been healthy over the past four seasons and has pitched at least 193.2 innings over the past three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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