Shohei Ohtani to the San Francisco Giants? It's never too early to start speculating. The SF Giants clearly prioritized signing a superstar this offseason, and while it didn't work out (for some insane reasons), there's no reason to think the Giants won't try again next year. Ohtani is far and away the biggest name available next winter, but Manny Machado should also be out there since he can opt out of the remaining five years and $150 million left on his contract, which would be an easy decision if he has a typical Manny Machado season.

Why did the Giants' farm system take such a big hit in some rankings this year? So much of the SF Giants' future will depend on successfully developing their own talent, so the Giants' drop in public rankings seems like cause for concern. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are subjective and that they can change year to year. Last year, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Giants' farm system second. This year, Keith Law ranked the Giants' system 18th. Did that much really change, or was it just a down year for some key guys?

How can the San Francisco Giants quell some of the frustration coming from the fanbase? Making the playoffs will be important, as will having some young players find success in the majors in 2023. Kyle Harrison has a chance to be special and figures to debut early in 2023. The Giants also have young players like David Villar, Casey Schmitt, R.J. Dabovich, and Cole Waites who could impact the team this year. If some of those players have legitimately good seasons, and the Giants make the playoffs and win at least one round, the fans should be feeling a lot better about the team's future.

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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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