The San Francisco Giants have struggled to attract a marquee name in free agency in recent years. Recently, Shohei Ohtani became the latest big-name player to decide to take his talents elsewhere. He reportedly signed the same contract with the Dodgers that the Giants offered him. In an interview, former Giants great Buster Posey seemed to suggest that the problems were with the city itself. However, the city of San Francisco is not to blame for the Giants issues in attracting star-free agents.
Buster Posey Is Wrong
Posey seemed to suggest that San Francisco’s problems with homelessness, drugs, and crime are the reasons for the Giants “free agent slump.” However, Posey’s assertion couldn’t be more wrong. San Francisco’s problems are no different than any other big city in America. It is unfair to pin those issues on just the city of San Francisco. Other cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and more all have the same issues and that isn’t deterring other free agents from signing with teams there.
The Present State of the Team Is the Real Problem
Embed from Getty ImagesThe real issue on why the Giants can’t seem to attract a star-free agent is the present state of the team. Players want the best opportunity to consistently have a chance to win. The Giants don’t present that opportunity right now. San Francisco has missed the postseason in six of the past seven seasons. The Giants farm system is only ranked 21st in baseball. Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has put together a boring team. All those things don’t allow the Giants to be a consistent contender.
The Giants Division Rivals Are Better Right Now
Embed from Getty ImagesThe real blame should be on San Francisco’s NL West rivals. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Padres are way better than the Giants right now. The Dodgers have a strong line-up and farm system and go to the postseason just about every year. Arizona is coming off a World Series run and appears to have opened a window of contention. The Diamondbacks also still have one of the top farm systems in baseball. While the Padres underperformed last season, their team is still strong on paper. Like the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, San Diego also has a strong farm system.
The City of San Francisco Isn’t to Blame
Embed from Getty ImagesThe issues in the city of San Francisco aren’t the reason why free agents are spurning the Giants for other teams. A free agent wants to join a team that gives him the best opportunity to be successful every season. The San Francisco Giants current infrastructure does not present that opportunity. The Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks simply have stronger infrastructures that attract free agents to want to play for them instead. The Giants as an organization and how they are built are the real reasons why free agents are taking their talents to other places.
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