The midway point of the 2023 MLB season is just three games away; after this large of a sample size, how should we evaluate the San Francisco Giants' offseason? The Giants' offseason was largely defined by the players they didn't sign, from Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa to Carlos Rodón. The Giants did bring back Joc Pederson and bring in Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, Taylor Rogers, and Luke Jackson. Those players have been a mixed bag. None have truly been great, with the exception of perhaps Rogers, and several have been big disappointments. But speaking of big disappointments, check out Carlos Correa's abysmal numbers or consider the fact that Rodón has yet to throw a pitch for the Yankees due to injuries.

The trade deadline is approaching; what are the Giants' needs? It's pretty clear the Giants could use some starting pitching. What would it take to land Marcus Stroman? What about Dylan Cease? Is Shohei Ohtani available, and does he makes sense for the SF Giants? Will the Giants trade Joey Bart? So many questions to consider and we'll have our answers soon enough.

Is it sustainable for the Giants to be doing so many bullpen games? First response would be that they aren't really "bullpen games" in the typical sense. Think of these games as being started by an opener, and then the "long reliever" or "bulk guy" who follows is essentially the starting pitcher, but he takes down the middle innings instead of the first many innings. The team is certainly cognizant of how this might affect their staff. Alex Cobb's imminent return to the Giants' rotation helps, and it seems clear that the Giants' biggest need at the trade deadline would be starting pitching.

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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.

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