Grading each SF Giants offseason acquisition's April performance

The SF Giants made several additions during the offseason, but many prominent names struggled in the first month of the season.

The SF Giants 2022-2023 offseason was defined by several additions without a major splash. After falling short in pursuit of Yankees star Aaron Judge and blowing up a deal with Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, the Giants agreed to roughly $175 million worth of guarantees with several free agents. They also added a pair of prospects via trade who made the team's Opening Day roster. How did each of those acquisitions fare in their first month with the Giants?

Prospects who have yet to make their big-league debuts and players who were signed with an understanding that they would miss the start of the season with injury did not receive grades. So pitchers Kade McClure, Erik Miller (Giants #31 prospect), and Luke Jackson were all omitted.

SF Giants left fielder Mitch Haniger celebrates with third baseman J.D. Davis and right fielder Michael Conforto after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres. (2023) / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Haniger: D

A pair of home runs in Mexico City, Mexico have carried Mitch Haniger's slugging-heavy .250/.296/.542 line through his first seven games in a Giants uniform. Haniger signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with San Francisco this offseason and was highly coveted for his consistent productivity at the plate. However, the biggest question surrounding the 32-year-old outfielder was his ability to stay on the field. Through the Giants' first 30 games, he's only appeared in seven.

A Grade 1 oblique strain kept Haniger out for a good chunk of spring training and most of April. The longtime right fielder has looked fine in left field since he was activated off the injured list, even if he remains a 45-50 grade (below average to average) defender. If Haniger is able to play in at least 100 games this season, it will be a massive boon for the Giants' lineup. 

Michael Conforto: D+

While Haniger received the most sizable guarantees, Michael Conforto locked in the highest average annual value in his contract of any Giants offseason signing ($18 million) because of his consistent All-Star caliber track record from 2017-2020. The Giants bet on Conforto's ability to bounce back from a pair of shoulder surgeries, and the 30-year-old outfielder has surely had his flashes.

Conforto has had some struggles adjusting to Oracle Park's difficult environment in right field, but his arm has had no problems. Throughout spring training and the early part of the season, Conforto looked like the best position player on the roster. However, he's hitting .158/.238/.184 with a 35.7% strikeout rate in his last 10 games, which has brought his OPS on the season down to .652. Slumps happen, and there's plenty of time left in the season for Conforto to bounce back at the plate, but given his recent medical history, there's obvious concern that something else is limiting his productivity.

Taylor Rogers: D+

The Giants signed Taylor Rogers to a three-year, $33 million deal this offseason with hopes the veteran southpaw could solidify the back of the bullpen alongside closer Camilo Doval. However, Rogers allowed at least an earned run in four of his first five outings and has played a prominent role in the bullpen's early-season struggles.

Rogers was far more consistent in the second half of April and has struck out six while yielding just one walk across 6.1 shutout innings in his last eight appearances. But, Giants manager Gabe Kapler has yet to bring him back into the high-stress situations he was signed to address. If the Giants bullpen finds a rhythm, it will likely require Rogers bouncing back and forming a strong setup duo with his twin Tyler in front of Doval.

Sean Manaea: D

Sean Manaea signed a two-year, $25 million contract with San Francisco this offseason that includes an opt-out after this season. The southpaw has maintained improved velocity, which gives him some tantalizing untapped potential, but outside of one excellent start, he has struggled with inconsistent command. The Giants have also thrust Manaea into a difficult swingman position, something he has never dealt with before in his career. Nevertheless, he has a 7.85 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched.

Ross Stripling: D

Like Manaea, Ross Stripling signed a nearly identical deal with the Giants this offseason and has struggled to find consistency in an erratic role. While Manaea got off to a strong start to the season, Stripling has trended in the opposite direction. After missing a portion of spring training for the birth of his child, Stripling was a bit behind at the start of the season and was hit hard. He did just finish his best outing of the season earlier this week in Houston, allowing just two earned runs across five innings pitched against the reigning champs. He has a 6.10 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched.

Blake Sabol: B-

Acquired in a trade after the Rule 5 Draft, Blake Sabol (Giants #33 prospect) has been at the center of several of the team's early-season highlights. Sabol formed the first Samoan battery in MLB history with Manaea and blasted a remarkable walk-off home run. The Giants have been forced to rely on Sabol defensively behind the plate more than they wanted to heading into the season, and he has been mostly passable despite his unique catching player development story, but there have been some low lows, particularly in Mexico City.

At the plate, Sabol's production has been nearly entirely homer reliant, with five blasts carrying his .235/.288/.471 line, but that should be enough if he can solidify his catching defense. The fact is, most Rule 5 picks are returned before Opening Day, and it looks like Sabol is actually going to stick. By the way, he has hit all five of his homers alongside a .263/.300/.544 line against righties, suggesting he could have an excellent future as a platoon bat.

Brett Wisely: C+

Acquired in a minor trade, Brett Wisely (Giants #22 prospect). Like with Sabol, the expectations are different for a prospect like Wisely, and that's reflected in the grade. He's only recorded one hit and zero walks in 25 MLB plate appearances, but the career infielder has looked surprisingly adept in center field and been quite productive in his Triple-A opportunities (.304/.467/.500 triple-slash). Injuries are probably forcing Wisely into a big-league role before he's ready, and some extended playing time at Triple-A would probably go a long way towards helping him establish himself in the majors. With that said, he has become an even more intriguing prospect with his newfound ability to handle center field.

Roberto Pérez : INC

Veteran catcher Roberto Pérez cracked the Giants Opening Day roster after inking a minor-league deal with the club this offseason. A two-time Gold Glove Award winner, Pérez was in line to share playing time behind the plate with Sabol and Bart before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Pérez looked like an excellent minor-league signing, but his campaign was ultimately cut short after just seven games.