Carlos Correa to the San Francisco Giants alters the direction of the franchise. Correa is a superstar in his prime, and he makes the SF Giants better for years to come. How does his signing fit in with the offseason as a whole? It wasn't long ago that top free agents were unsigned into February or even March. But these last two offseasons—last year in large part because of the impending lockout—have seen much more activity by mid-December. With the Giants' signing of Correa, almost all of the top free agents had found teams just about a week after the Winter Meetings. It's a great development for the league, as no one really benefits from top players being unsigned for so long.

Just how much better does Carlos Correa make the San Francisco Giants? Was he their true No. 2 target after Aaron Judge? He fits them perfectly, not just in 2023 but for many years to come. He's young, he's athletic, he plays a premium position, he hits, he hits for power, he's a leader. Carlos Correa is exactly what the SF Giants needed exactly when they needed it. Despite all that, the Giants are still likely going to project to finish in third place in the NL West. But before Correa signed with the Giants, it was a real question whether the D-backs might be in better shape going into 2023.

Carlos Rodón was a true ace for the Giants in 2022. The question of whether he will be back in 2023 is discussed, as this podcast was recorded prior to Rodón signing with the Yankees. It always seemed unlikely that Rodón would be back, after what happened with Kevin Gausman last offseason. The SF Giants have made pitching additions, signing Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling to two-year deals with opt-outs. The Giants' rotation is quite deep, but doesn't have as much upside as it had in 2022. However, that could change if and when Giants top prospect Kyle Harrison is called up to the majors, which is expected to happen at some point in 2023, perhaps even early in the 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.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

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