Why The San Francisco Giants Should Make A Push For Blake Snell And Jordan Montgomery

The recent trend of SF signings points toward a different outcome, but here's why the Giants should make a strong push for Snell and Montgomery.

This offseason, the San Francisco Giants have been surprisingly aggressive in their pursuit of top free agents. Unlike their historically frugal tendencies, they have been publicly linked to some of the biggest names on the market, including Barry Bonds and Aaron Judge. While they have thus far been unsuccessful in luring any high-profile players, their attempts have been applauded by fans and media members alike.

The Giants' recent activity makes the likelihood of a late push for free agents seem even more unlikely. Just this week, they signed Matt Chapman to a ingenious deal that provides flexibility for the team and the player. With the contract structure of 1/2/3/4 years, depending on various performance and team-related scenarios, it appears the Giants have done all they can to improve their team while also maintaining flexibility for the future.

However, I argue that they should continue to be aggressive in their pursuits and make a push for two of the remaining top free agents still on the market: Cody Snell and Jordan Montgomery. While it may seem like it's too late to make a push for them, and that their arrival would disrupt the team's chemistry, there are plenty of baseball reasons why they should target these two players.

Firstly, it's obvious that they would improve the team. Since 2020, Snell has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, accumulating 11.7 WAR, and ranking 11th in pitcher value among those with at least 100 starts. Meanwhile, Montgomery has been a highly underrated and consistent performer over his career, providing depth for the Yankees' rotation for years.

Secondly, signing them would boost their profile for next year's free agency. While this might add pressure to perform, it could also provide a better landing spot for them to showcase their abilities. Given the current state of the team, they would be entering a favorable environment to succeed and help the team make some noise in the postseason.

Lastly, the players would also be gaining a win in this situation. Both Snell and Montgomery would be taking less risk by signing short-term deals to showcase their abilities and then hit free agency again next year. In a market where players are increasingly aware of their worth and the declining rate of free agency, this is a smart play for them to maximize their earning potential.

Of course, there are potential downsides for the Giants. Signing them late in spring training could mean they arrive too late or disrupt the current flow of the team. Additionally, the contracts might be pricey for a team already projected to be over the luxury tax threshold.

However, the potential benefits of adding two talented players outweigh these concerns. If the Giants can find a way to manage their payroll and convince the players to join despite the late stage of the offseason, it would be a win for everyone involved.

As a fan, I'd love to see the Giants make a push for these players and continue to aggressively improve their team for the upcoming season. While it seems unlikely, I believe it's a worthwhile gamble for the team to make a splash and differentiate themselves from other organizations.