The 40-man roster: outfielders

Where to start with the 2020 San Francisco Giants? In the obvious place--the team webpage! Specifically, the 40-man roster. There are seven outfielders listed, in alphabetical order.

Jaylin Davis (R)
Alex Dickerson (L)
Steven Duggar (L)
Joe McCarthy (L)
Chris Shaw (L)
Austin Slater (R)
Mike Yastrzemski (L)

Davis was obtained in the Sam Dyson trade. He clobbered the ball in AA and AAA in 2019 and got a brief call-up (17 G, 47 PA, 101 innings mostly in RF). I suspect he will get a long look.

Dickerson is 29 and had a great run for the Giants in 2019 before getting hurt. He debuted with the Padres in 2015-16 but missed two years with both back surgery and Tommy John surgery. The Giants picked him up from the Padres in June for RHP Franklin Van Gurp. He can hit, but can he stay healthy enough to be a regular?

26-year old Steven Duggar had a promising debut in 2018 before an injury. He struggled at the plate in 2019 but is still a plus-defender. He was drafted by the Giants in the 6th round in 2015.

The unfortunately-named Joe McCarthy will be 26 in February. He has no major-league service time. He was a 2015 pick as well, by Tampa Bay in the 5th round. He was acquired at the trade deadline, the Rays getting LHP Jacob Lopez. McCarthy is a real unknown, injuries setting him back the last few seasons, but he has demonstrated excellent on-base skills in the minors.

Chris Shaw was the 31st pick (1st round) of the 2015 draft. The Giants also drafted Phil Bickford at #18, he was traded with Andrew Susac to the Brewers in 2016 for Will Smith. Smith's departure means the Giants get a compensation pick (approx #80) in the next draft. Shaw blasted his way out of the minor leagues but has yet to find it at the major-league level (38 G, 82 PA in 2018-19). He's 26.

Austin Slater has slashed .254/.335/.368 over three seasons with the Giants (176 G, 544 PA). His .750 OPS (99 OPS+) and over 300 innings in the OF (mostly RF) was good for 0.7 bWAR in 2019. He was an 8th-round pick from Stanford in 2014.

Mike Yastrzemski, he of the famous grandpa, was the most valuable position player by bWAR (2.8) last season. The Giants picked him up in a trade from the Orioles (RHP Tyler Herb) in March and he debuted two months later. By the end of July he was clearly the best hitter on the team. He finished with an .852 OPS (123 OPS+) in 107 games (411 PA). He's 29 and projects to be one of the starting corner OFs.

There you have it. Three of the seven are Sabes/Evans Era signings (Duggar-Shaw-Slater) while four of the seven are FZ Era pickups (Davis-Dickerson-McCarthy-Yaz).

I'll do a post for infielders and pitchers as well, although the pitchers may take two posts.

HAPPY 2020!!

--M.C.