Dodgers: Buster Posey’s retirement adds more complication to Giants’ offseason

Thankfully, the Los Angeles Dodgers won’t be alone in trying to pick up the pieces after a disappointing 2021 coupled with a daunting number of impending free agents.

The division-rival San Francisco Giants will also have to share in that, and things just got worse for them.

On Wednesday, news broke that Giants legend and hopeful future Hall of Famer Buster Posey will be retiring, marking the end of a 12-year career that now leaves behind major question marks.

Posey calling it quits after he just hit .304 with an .889 OPS in what was his best campaign since 2017? We know he was a generational catcher, has three World Series titles, a Rookie of the Year and MVP, but are his career numbers enough to get into Cooperstown?

That discussion’s for another day, of course, but in the immediate aftermath, the Giants will have to figure out how to move forward without their undisputed team leader.

Dodgers: Buster Posey’s retirement throws a wrench in Giants’ offseason.

The only “positive” here is that the Giants will save $22 million against the luxury tax, which was expected to be Posey’s 2022 salary in the event he exercised his player option. But that’s hardly a positive because the Giants already had a ton of money off the books and had to deal with countless other impending FAs, such as:

• 1B Brandon Belt
• OF Kris Bryant
• SP Kevin Gausman
• SP Anthony DeSclafani
• 2B Donovan Solano
• SP Alex Wood
• RP Tony Watson

With guaranteed salaries, options and upcoming arbitration payments, San Fran has just $99 million committed to next year’s payroll. They have a lot to spend, but now they have another massive void to fill.

Is No. 2 prospect Joey Bart up for the challenge of taking over everyday catching duties? Can they afford to let Belt go after the year he had plus the influence he provides? What about Gausman, who said he signed on with the team because of Posey’s presence?

Not to mention, if we’re being honest, the Giants also have to realize they got incredibly lucky in 2021, winning a league-best 107 games thanks to unlikely resurgences from all of their aging core players, which included Posey. Losing a core piece like him will affect them both on and off the field.

Additionally, the hope was that Posey’s career would be extended a bit should the universal DH arrive in 2022. Posey would’ve been entering his age-35 season and a transition to that role would’ve done wonders for lengthening his career.

Instead, the Dodgers halted the Giants’ best season in franchise history a few weeks ago, and not too long after, San Fran was blindsided by Posey’s decision to retire. Welcome to the realm of uncertainty, Giants fans.

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