Inbox: Could the SF Giants trade for Shohei Ohtani this offseason?

Is it at all possible that the San Francisco Giants could trade for Shohei Ohtani this winter? The Angels recently signed Ohtani to a $30 million salary for 2023, but that doesn't mean he won't be traded. The Angels should make every effort to extend the superstar pitcher/DH, and if they're unable, they should seriously consider moving him. Otherwise, they risk letting him walk away in free agency and receiving nothing but a little draft pick compensation in return. The Giants, meanwhile, should be one of the most aggressive teams if the Angels make Ohtani available. This would be a similar scenario as when the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts (one year from free agency). It would mostly make sense for the SF Giants if they could then extend Ohtani, which wouldn't be a certainty.

How should the SF Giants address their bullpen, which fell off dramatically in 2022 after leading the majors in ERA in 2021. Fans might not like the answer, but the Giants are likely to remake their bullpen through minor signings and trades. That is, after all, how they built their MLB-best 'pen in 2021. They also already started to turn it over last year, with new names like Scott Alexander, Alex Young, and Shelby Miller making strong impressions. Alexander and Young can be retained, and Miller is a free agent but has expressed interest in a reunion with the Giants. Thomas Szapucki will also be in the mix after coming over in the lopsided Darin Ruf trade, and he was impressive in his brief time in the majors.

How significant of a role could Casey Schmitt play for the San Francisco Giants in 2023? Schmitt has emerged as perhaps the Giants' best position player prospect, and he made it all the way to a brief stint in Triple-A to close out a highly impressive 2022 campaign in the minors. Schmitt has a chance to see the majors next year, and once he's here, he could go as far as claiming the third base position moving forward. Known as one of the better defensive players in the minors, Schmitt also impressed with the bat in 2022 and could be a huge part of the San Francisco Giants' 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.

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