Dynamic duo of Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner stand out among Giants

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

2017 fantasy baseball team previews

The San Francisco Giants finally had their streak of World Series titles in even-numbered years snapped in 2016, losing in the NL division series to the eventual champion Cubs. A second-half fade, complete with an ugly bullpen meltdown, will be remembered vividly. But the front office took a bold step to remedy that weakness in the offseason. With one of the game's best starting rotations and a decent offense, the Giants should be playoff contenders again, even in an odd year.

2016 at a glance

Record: 87-75 (2nd in NL West)

MLB SALARIES: Baseball's top 25 highest-paid players in 2024

Hitting: 19th (4.41 R/G)

Pitching: 4th (3.65 ERA)

Arrivals

RP Mark Melancon

C Nick Hundley

Melancon is a top-tier closer who has posted ERAs under 2.00 in three of the last four seasons (the other was 2.23) and saved a total of 147 games over that span. 

Hundley, 33, gives the team a veteran behind the plate when they need to give starter Buster Posey a day off. 

The Giants also signed veteran SS Jimmy Rollins and OF Michael Morse to minor league deals with an invitation to spring training, but it would be a long shot for either to make the roster.

Players to watch

SP Madison Bumgarner 

SP Johnny Cueto

C Buster Posey

3B/SS Eduardo Nunez

Bumgarner is a model of consistency with six consecutive seasons of 200 or more innings -- and at least 190 strikeouts in each of them. Even better for fantasy owners, his strikeout rate continues to rise (9.97 K/9 last season). It's hard not to have him among the top three fantasy pitchers.

Cueto led the team with 18 wins, and he joined Bumgarner with a sub-3.00 ERA. His age (31) and strikeout rate (8.1 K/9) may be the only things keeping him out of the elite realm of starting pitchers, but his impeccable control has improved even more as he's gotten older. And he gets a ton of ground balls (50.2%).

The 2012 NL MVP, Posey had a down year by his standards, hitting .288 with 14 homers and 80 RBI. While he maintained an outstanding contact rate, his average on balls in play was a career-low .309 -- even though he had a career-high hard contact rate (36%). More evidence why he should be the first catcher drafted.

There should be plenty of skepticism with Nunez, who had a career year at age 29 while getting full-time at-bats for the first time in the majors. His 40 stolen bases gave fantasy owners a huge boost off the waiver wire last season, especially when they came with 16 home runs and a .288 average. He continued to run, even after he was traded to the Giants so expect that trend to continue, but it may hard for him to match his other numbers from a year ago.

Sleepers

1B Brandon Belt

SP Matt Moore 

Despite a 46% fly-ball rate that ranked ninth among qualified batters, Belt hit just 17 home runs -- and only six of them at home. But just a slight uptick in his 9.3% HR/FB rate could alter those numbers dramatically. He already hits the ball solidly (his 27.8% line-drive rate ranked third) and has a tremendous eye (104 walks, .394 OBP). A breakout at age 29 wouldn't be a total shock.

Moore is an interesting late-rounder because he's already shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career. He had a pair of 11-strikeout games in September after the Giants acquired him from Tampa Bay. And he stayed healthy for the first time in three years. A 135-inning increase over 2015 may raise concerns, but he's in a great spot to succeed.

Bullpen

Closer: Mark Melancon

Next: Hunter Strickland/Will Smith

Melancon gives the Giants the stability they lacked at closer last season. That will allow Strickland, Smith and the underrated Derek Law (2.13 ERA in 55 innings) to thrive in their setup roles, rather than randomly be thrown into the closing mix.

Position battles

The departure of free agent Angel Pagan opens up the left field job for what looks like a platoon of Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson. Parker, 28, is out of minor league options and has a bit more power. Plus, he hits left-handed. Belt could also see some time in the outfield if needed

Free-agent signee Jae-gyun Hwang, 29, is a six-time All-Star in the Korean Baseball Organization who will have an opportunity to make the Giants as a backup infielder and/or an occasional starter at second or third base. Kelby Tomlinson and Conor Gillaspie could also be in that mix.

The Giants would love to have former ace Matt Cain, now 32, healthy enough to be their fifth starter. Injuries have limited him to less than 100 innings each of the past three seasons -- and he hasn't had an ERA under 4.00 since 2012. If Cain isn't up to the task, the Giants will likely have to dip into the minor leagues for Ty Blach, Chris Stratton or Clayton Blackburn.

Prospects

SP Tyler Beede

3B Christian Arroyo

Beede, 23, could also get a shot at the starting rotation, although the Giants would have to create a spot for him on the 40-man roster for that to happen. The 2014 first-rounder had a 2.81 ERA in 24 starts at Class AA Richmond and will likely have to prove himself at Class AAA before the Giants call him up. 

Arroyo, 21, can play second, third and short but will concentrate on the hot corner this season. He's yet to show much power, with 20 homers in four minor-league seasons. He should also start the season at Class AAA.

Projected batting order

1. CF Denard Span

2. 1B Brandon Belt

3. C Buster Posey

4. RF Hunter Pence

5. SS Brandon Crawford

6. 3B Eduardo Nunez

7. 2B Joe Panik

8. LF Jarrett Parker/Mac Williamson

Projected rotation

1. LHP Madison Bumgarner

2. RHP Johnny Cueto

3. RHP Jeff Samardzija

4. LHP Matt Moore

5. RHP Matt Cain