The Giants, the team that supposedly couldn’t lure big-time players to San Francisco, signed two stars — reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell and perennial Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman — in spring training, no less. That made it five major-league free agents for $300M-plus. What’s more, they look like a playoff team now.
There are some stars who still put San Francisco low on their list — one free agent asked for 10 years from them, and fewer years from others — but the reality and the rep may be improving. San Francisco is working to change its image.
Giants president Larry Baer calls the oft-heard story that San Francisco is a city with big problems a “false narrative.”
Giants baseball president Farhan Zaidi would rather the narrative just go away. “I think it’s a complete non-issue,” he said.
Giants players do seem to love it there. Mike Yastrzemski, who’s lived downtown, said, “San Francisco is just like any other city, except it’s beautiful.”
Almost every player has biases, and it may be mostly happenstance that a run of stars they pursued went elsewhere, including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. But even they had to wonder.
Part of the reason the Giants hired Bob Melvin is his rep as a player’s manager, and that’s been a plus already. Upon agreeing, both Chapman and Snell cited their affection for Melvin, who managed them in Oakland and San Diego, respectively.
Another winter like this one, when they signed more free agents than anyone else, and did it without overpaying, and the narrative may fade completely.
Chapman, for one, said he’s thrilled to be back in the Bay after spending five years with the A’s.
“I think we can start something special,” Chapman said.
They already have.