Above all, the Giants need a marquee player who can anchor the roster and enliven their fanbase, which has grown weary of the club’s dependence on platoons and openers in recent years. No player would fit this bill better than Ohtani, though Juan Soto would also make sense if the Padres are open to trading him within the division.

With a stated goal of improving their defense, the Giants are expected to target true center fielders like Bellinger and Lee and seek out depth at shortstop. Third base is less of a priority, though they’ve been heavily linked to Chapman, a four-time Gold Glover who played under Melvin in Oakland. San Francisco could be active in the starting-pitching market as well, particularly now that All-Star right-hander Alex Cobb will miss the beginning of next season due to left hip surgery.

Potential trade candidates 

The Giants’ farm system is rich in young arms, so they could consider moving pitching prospects like Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck, Sean Hjelle, Carson Whisenhunt, Mason Black or Hayden Birdsong to try to fill other holes on the roster. The outfield is also looking a bit crowded, so incumbents like Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto, Austin Slater, Mike Yastrzemski or LaMonte Wade Jr. could become trade candidates if the Giants end up bringing someone new into the fold.

Prospects to know 

Whisenhunt, the Giants’ No. 3 prospect, enjoyed a meteoric rise to Double-A Richmond in 2023 before suffering a season-ending left elbow sprain in July, though he managed to rehab the injury and is expected to be full go for Spring Training. If he can stay healthy, he could develop into a rotation option sooner rather than later. Fellow pitching prospects Trevor McDonald (No. 22), Erik Miller (No. 29) and Kai-Wei Teng were also added to the Giants’ 40-man roster last month, so they could be in line to debut in 2024, as well.

Rule 5 Draft 

The Giants left outfielder Grant McCray (No. 7) and shortstop Aeverson Arteaga (No. 12) unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft, so they’ll be eligible to be poached by another team this year. Still, neither has played above High-A Eugene, so their chances of sticking on a big league roster for the entire season are likely slim. Reliever R.J. Dabovich missed most of the 2023 campaign due to right hip surgery, but he has experience pitching at the Triple-A level, so he could also draw interest from other clubs. 

With 36 players on their 40-man roster, the Giants will have the ability to select a player and try to replicate the success they enjoyed with Blake Sabol, who became a valuable contributor for the club after being taken in last year’s Rule 5 Draft.

Burning question

Can they win the Ohtani and/or Yamamoto sweepstakes? 

MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi reported earlier this week that the Giants are prioritizing the two Japanese stars “above all other options this offseason,” but the competition for both will be fierce. The enigmatic Ohtani hasn’t tipped his hand about his preferred destination, but there’s been some speculation that the Giants’ pursuit could be hurt by Oracle Park, which is tough on left-handed power hitters. Yamamoto, meanwhile, is expected to command a deal upwards of $200 million, with big market teams like the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Red Sox all vying for his services.

If the Giants manage to outbid their rivals and finally reel in a big fish, they’ll not only fill their glaring superstar void, but also send a strong message to their fans that they’re committed to putting a more entertaining product on the field in 2024 and beyond.