The Giants are primed to go big. We've heard that before, and been let down time and time again. But it doesn't change the fact that they are, in fact, primed to go big. This very offseason. Despite SF Giants chairman Greg Johnson stating on numerous occasions the unpopular phrase that "the goal is to break even," even that is not a deterrent for the San Francisco Giants going huge this winter. The reason? Payroll flexibility.
There's often a lot of strong feelings evoked when terms like "financial flexibility" are used. But in the case of the San Francisco Giants, it's worth explaining what it means and why it means they could easily sign a Shohei Ohtani and still "break even." In short, the SF Giants have very few payroll obligations for 2025, and for 2026-28, their only commitment is about $23 million annually to Logan Webb. After that, the books are completely clear.
Say the Giants were to sign Ohtani to a ludicrous 12-year, $600 million contract. That would be a record-shattering $50M per year. The Giants would still be under $100 million in commitments for 2025 and beyond with that salary on the books. That's what's meant by payroll flexibility, and that (among many other reasons) is why the SF Giants are expected to be major players in free agency this year. There's no doubt they're pursuing top names. The only question is whether someone big will finally take their money and sign on the dotted line. And pass their danged physical.
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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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