2024 Division Outlook: NL West

San Francisco Giants

Key Additions
- LHP Blake Snell
- 3B Matt Chapman
- DH Jorge Soler
- OF Jung Hoo Lee
- RHP Jordan Hicks
- LHP Robbie Ray

Key Loses
- SS Brandon Crawford
- OF/DH Joc Pederson
- OF Mitch Haniger
- RHP Ross Stripling
- LHP Sean Manaea
- LHP Alex Wood
- RHP Anthony DeSclafani
- RHP Jakob Junis

The San Francisco Giants had a great offseason, an offseason that seems to be rather underrated. They tried to address each part of their roster, adding rotation pieces and offensive depth. Former Athletics and Padres manager Bob Melvin has now moved over to the Giants and looks to take them back to the postseason in a crowded National League West.

Free agent acquisitions make up almost half of the Giants lineup, with Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, and Nick Ahmed all looking to make an impact. Coming over from the KBO, Lee hopes to translate this impressive contact and defensive skills in his inaugural season in the MLB. Chapman, a premier defender at the hot corner, is gonna be heavily depended on as a cornerstone of the Giants offense. His bat can be really hot and cold at times, so the Giants are hoping to get some more consistency from him. Jorge Soler then provides some much needed power on the West Coast for San Francisco. LaMonte Wade Jr., Michael Conforto, Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski will all be contributors in the lineup. Overall, there is some serious potential in the Giants lineup, but it honestly relies on everyone performing together.

On the pitching side, there is some boom or bust to be had with the Giants rotation. Logan Webb is a perennial Cy Young award candidate every year, a trend that will continue in 2024. The Giants added the 2023 NL Cy Young award winner via free agency, but it looks to be another week or two before we see Blake Snell make his Giants debut. Despite winning the Cy Young last year, some of Snell's expected statistics were not too keen on him, leaving some question in terms of the odds of Snell's ability to repeat at that level. Regardless, it is hard to question a two time Cy Young award winner. Kyle Harrison aims to develop in 2024, and as a former top prospect, the southpaw has the talent to do so. Flamethrower Jordan Hicks has been a reliever for practically his whole career, but the Giants are aiming to turn him into a starter full time this season. HIs velocity and movement is no joke, but he can struggle massively at times, causing some concern on his ability to perform as a starter for a full season. Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray will start the year on the shelf for the Giants, but can be extremely essential reinforcements throughout the season to add serious depth to the Giants staff. As a whole unit, I expect the Giants pitching staff to perform at a top 5 level in the National League, but will it be enough to overcome the heavyweight Dodgers?

Team MVP: Logan Webb

Team Cy Young: Logan Webb

Team X-Factor: Matt Chapman

The Nationals will visit glorious Oracle Park for three games from April 8-10, and host the Giants for a four game series from August 5-8.

The National League West looks to be a competitive division in 2024, despite having a heavy favorite in the Dodgers. The Giants, Padres, and Diamondbacks all having rosters that can put them into a place to compete. While I think those three squads can be competitive in the playoff picture within the National League, I simply can not see them overtaking the Los Angeles Dodgers and the squad they have assembled. Only one other squad lives in the division, but they are relatively irrelevant, with that team being the Colorado Rockies. To wrap everything up, here are my division predictions for the NL West in 2024:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (105-57)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-74)
3. San Francisco Giants (86-76)
4. San Diego Padres (82-80)
5. Colorado Rockies (59-103)