MLB Power Rankings: 5 major changes thanks to free agency and trades
By Tim Boyle
4) MLB Power Rankings: How signing Carlos Correa or Carlos Rodon effects the Giants
The San Francisco Giants remain contenders for free agent shortstop Carlos Correa and a reunion with pitcher Carlos Rodon. Their current spot in the MLB Power Rankings has them around the same place as the Red Sox. This is a place slightly ahead of teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels with something more to prove. Let’s call it 19th.
Things drastically change for the Giants by adding either Carlos. Correa pushes them closer to the middle. Their underwhelming lineup needs a bat like his. Rodon would be huge for them too, but what they need most is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat. This is something Correa can offer them.
The Giants don’t suddenly challenge for a spot in the top 12 as a favorite to be a playoff team. At best, Correa can move them to number 16 in the MLB Power Rankings. Rodon, who would only contribute once every five days as a starting pitcher, only allows them to officially move ahead of the Red Sox.
One of baseball’s most mysterious teams in terms of what we can expect, the Giants outplayed expectations in 2021 then regressed back to some normalcy in 2022. They kind of need one Carlos. Correa is the far more impactful one. Rodon, who would be returning, simply keeps the Giants exactly where they were at, which wasn’t very good in the first place.