Giants offseason preview: Obvious hole emerging in infield originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — When Buster Posey talks of the Giants leaning on homegrown position players and having a strong defense, he is doing so from experience.
Posey played nearly his entire career with Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt, and at one point those three teamed up with Joe Panik and Matt Duffy to form a very popular and productive infield made up entirely of players drafted and developed by the Giants.
Posey is used to consistency on the dirt, and as he takes over, the Giants might actually be pretty close to once again knowing exactly what they’re going to get from their infield. In Matt Chapman and Patrick Bailey, they have a pair of Gold Glove Award winners who are locked up for years to come. The organization’s top prospect is a first baseman and one of last season’s breakout stars will either be playing shortstop or second base next Opening Day.
Posey never really had to think about who would be playing shortstop during his playing days, and if he can add to that position this winter, the Giants might soon have stability all over their infield. As we continue our offseason breakdown of position groups, here’s a look at what the Giants have and who might be on the way …
On the 40-man
The Giants head into the offseason with Bailey, Chapman, Tyler Fitzgerald, Wilmer Flores, Marco Luciano, Tom Murphy, Blake Sabol, Casey Schmitt, David Villar, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Brett Wisely, although this list will look different in the spring, and not just because they plan to add a shortstop.
Luciano’s season ended early when he was sent to Arizona to begin working on his outfield skills and it’s likely he’s not standing on the dirt at all next spring. He could be replaced by Wade Meckler, who still is listed with outfielders on the organization’s depth chart.
Meckler started taking grounders late in Triple-A Sacramento’s season and coaches — along with instructor Ron Wotus — were pleasantly surprised with how smooth he looked. He played some second base in college and a utility role is the best path back to the big leagues for the 24-year-old, who had a .866 OPS in Triple-A after returning from an injury.
What went right
Chapman’s first season in San Francisco really couldn’t have gone much better. He had his best offensive season in five years, won his fifth Gold Glove Award, took over as leader of the clubhouse and pulled a Hunter Pence by signing a…