"They were ready to give Carlos Correa $350M" - Giants insider justifies team's position on avoiding Tatsuya Imai sweepstakes

The San Francisco Giants endured a disappointing season in 2025, finishing third in the NL West and missing out on the postseason.

Hoping to see an improvement 2026, fans have been clamoring for the team to bring in new players this winter.

They were strongly linked with highly rated Japanese free agent Tatsuya Imai, and even met with his agent, Scott Boras. However, the franchise ultimately backed out of negotiations, unwilling to meet Imai's demands of a nine-figure contract.

This drew criticism from plenty of fans, who felt the organization was unwilling to spend what it took to bring in top-quality talent.

On Saturday's episode of "The Glen Kuiper Show," The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly defended the Giants' approach in the market. Instead of San Francisco being frugal, Baggarly argued that none of the top free agents fit the kind of profile the organization is looking to recruit.

"I want to say this, (Giants chairman) Greg Johnson, he says they take everything on a case-by-case basis," Baggarly said (Timestamp: 4:04). "They thought Carlos Correa was the right guy for them. They were ready to give him $350 million. They thought Rafael Devers was the right guy. They traded him, took on $250 million. They thought Willy Adames was the right guy, the right position. They gave out a franchise-record contract, $182 million.

"I just don't think they see, in this free agent class, anybody who's really worth stacking on another huge contract for. That means it's going to be incumbent on them to get creative, whether it's trading, whether it's finding ways they can raise the floor of the roster. Maybe a very unsexy offseason, but that's kind of where they are."

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"They gotta be smart" - insider backs Giants' methodical approach in the market

On Tuesday's episode of "Splash Hit Territory," insider Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle also spoke in support of San Francisco's approach in the market.

"I don't know that you need another frontline starter. Freddy Peralta or Joe Ryan, absolutely, I don't think you have to go out and get (Tatsuya) Imai," Slusser said (Timestamp: 15:00). "I really don't. The need is for offense, everybody. It's not for pitching. The pitching was good last year. I think it will be good again. I understand why people are upset, I understand why Giants fans look at this and go, 'They're not spending money.'

"They have spent money. They've got five long-term deals. Ownership approved the Rafael Devers deal last year. This isn't a team that is sitting on their wallet and not bringing it out. This is a team that has spent pretty strongly. They're in a division with the Dodgers. You're not going to outspend the Dodgers. So, they gotta be smart."

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey - Source: Getty

After a four-year absence from the playoffs, the Giants will be looking to make it back in 2026.