Nothing lasts forever. Former San Francisco Giants General Manager Brian Sabean, who was the architect of the team's championship era, has left the organization for a "better opportunity" with the New York Yankees. Sabean became the SF Giants' GM in the late '90s, and held onto the role deep into the 2010s. He stepped aside for Bobby Evans in the middle of the 2010s, but Sabean still had a prominent role in the Giants' decision making. But after Evans was fired near the end of the 2018 season, Sabean moved into an advisory role. He said that he wasn't used as much as he expected, and the opportunity with New York was a better fit for him. He implied that he wasn't needed anymore within the Giants' organization, which is a bit upsetting to hear. Best of luck to Brian Sabean. Giants fans owe him a debt of gratitude for his service and crucial role in bringing in the most successful era in the history of the franchise.
Turning the page, the Giants' DFA of Tommy La Stella is discussed. La Stella's first two years in San Francisco were quite poor, and it's no big surprised that he didn't survive the roster over the offseason. The Giants needed to clear a 40-man roster spot after signing Taylor Rogers. They'll still need to clear another when they officially announce their deal with outfielder Michael Conforto. La Stella is owed $11.5 million this season, but his deal was always a small one. More than the money, this move is significant because it frees up La Stella's spot on the active roster. Those at-bats and innings in the field (or at the DH spot) will now go to other players.
Are we sleeping on J.D. Davis? He really hit with the SF Giants down the stretch, and he has a career .350 on-base percentage. When we're projecting out the Giants' roster, we often have LaMonte Wade Jr. at first base and David Villar at third, but doesn't Davis deserve to start somewhere? While there's no doubt Davis is a quality hitter, the question is whether he can provide any kind of positive (or even neutral) defensive value anywhere on the diamond. Davis, Wilmer Flores, and Villar all provide similar skill-sets. It's still entirely possible that one is moved prior to the start of the 2023 season.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
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