The San Francisco Giants are about to embark upon a huge offseason. They just had an 81-81 season, which can only be characterized as a significant disappointment following up a record-setting 107-win campaign in 2021. The Giants know they need to have a big offseason, and Farhan Zaidi's meeting with reporters was the very first step in the offseason for the SF Giants.

Zaidi addressed the status of Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria. He basically implied that both could be back, but hinted that if they do return to the Giants, they would have less significant roles. This is no surprise, as both players have the potential to still be productive, and they are well-liked inside the clubhouse and amongst Giants fans, but neither should be relied upon to make a significant impact. The Giants hold a $13 million club option over Longoria (with a $5 million buyout), whereas Belt is a pure free agent and is coming off knee surgery.

Carlos Rodón was also addressed. The Giants and Zaidi fully expect Rodón to opt out, which is an most obvious call. Rodón may follow in Kevin Gausman's footsteps, departing the Giants for a long-term deal Zaidi doesn't appear to be eager to hand out to a starting pitcher. The Giants may look to add an ace-caliber pitcher on a short-term deal, and players like Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw should be available on that kind of deal. Zaidi also said prospect Kyle Harrison should impact the MLB rotation next year, perhaps even early in the season.

Zaidi also touched on his search for the Giants' next GM, which should be wrapped up within a few weeks. He also discussed the Giants' commitment to Brandon Crawford at shortstop, and noted that "everything is on the table," meaning they won't shy away from the stud free-agent shortstops just because Crawford is on the team and owed $16 million in 2023, the final year of his deal.

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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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