The San Francisco Giants didn’t make that “major” move in the offseason. They saved those for last offseason and last year’s trade deadline.

Still, San Francisco did plenty to position itself as a team that could be better than 81-81 last season. Not all moves are created equal. Not all moves work out the way the franchise hoped. The value of some of those moves have yet to be determined.

But, on their face, here are the moves that already look smart and already look, eh, dumb, going into opening day.

Smart

Signing Luis Arráez

The Venezuela native had a huge World Baseball Classic as his home country won the title for the first time. He had his second career multi-home run game in his WBC career. He returned to spring training and the bat kept cooking. He slashed .353/.389/.412.

While many envisioned him as a leadoff hitter due to his impressive ability to get contact and his three batting titles, San Francisco is toying with batting him later in the order. He’s one of the few contact hitters that could excel in that role, and he gives the lineup flexibility.

Signing Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser

The Giants may get the best version of both pitchers. Before Sunday’s exhibition game in Sacramento, Mahle had thrown 10 scoreless innings in spring and showed no signs of the shoulder fatigue that limited him last season. Houser has thrown 11 innings and while he hasn’t been as effective, he looks like the innings-eater the Giants hoped they signed.

With the season-ending injury to Hayden Birdsong and the underperformance of the Carsons — Seymour and Whisenhunt — signing the two veterans to inexpensive deals looks smarter by the day.

Signing Harrison Bader

He’s day-to-day with a tight hamstring, but it’s a minor inconvenience this early in the campaign. San Francisco knew what they were getting when they signed him — a Gold Glove level center fielder with a resurgent bat who can make their entire outfield better. It allowed San Francisco to move Jung Hoo Lee to right field, which should improve his defensive numbers. San Francisco locked him into a cheap two-year deal. It should pay off handsomely.

Dumb

Not Signing Left-Handed Relief Help Sooner

San Francisco knew it was going to have some issues at left-handed relief. Erik Miller was going to need time to recover from a back issue. Sam Hentges won’t be ready after arthroscopic knee surgery. Then the Giants lost Reiver Sanmartin for three months to hip surgery. At one point the only healthy left-handed reliever in camp was Matt Gage.

San Francisco tried addressing it by signing Joey Lucchesi. But the Giants released him on Sunday after signing Ryan Borucki. But a bit more careful planning might have lessened San Francisco’s need to scramble this late in camp.

Not Adding Healthy Closing Experience

The Giants signed left-hander Jason Foley to bolster the bullpen. He had 28 saves for the Detroit Tigers in 2024. There was one problem. His recovery from shoulder surgery will keep him out of the lineup until the second half of the season.

That puts the pressure on Ryan Walker to not only be the closer but keep the job. He wants the pressure, he has said repeatedly in camp. He’s held the job before but not consistently. If he meets the moment, the Giants look smart for trusting him. If he can’t, San Francisco doesn’t have a healthy back-up plan until the All-Star break.

On Sunday, a special Mass was held to say goodbye to the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver, Samuel J. Aquila.

Aquila was appointed as the diocese’s archbishop in 2012 and submitted his resignation last year as he neared his 75th birthday, in accordance with Canon Law. Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation in February and appointed his successor, Archbishop-designate James R. Golka.

A Mass of Thanksgiving was held at the Light of the World Catholic Church on Sunday to bid farewell to the man who led the diocese for nearly 14 years and to thank him for his service. Aquila was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver in 1976, and this year marks his 50th anniversary as a priest.

As archbishop, Aquila spoke out against abortion and called on officials to find a balance between protecting the United States’ borders and welcoming immigrants.

Aquila says that during his time as archbishop, the diocese has received many blessings and seen significant growth, including an increase in the number of young families.

“I think that the Lord has blessed this archdiocese tremendously, especially since World Youth Day in 1993; things really began to change here. Many new apostolates were born from the visit of Pope John Paul II, of Saint John Paul II. And there is a very deep awareness of how God providentially watches over this archdiocese,” said Aquila. “And so, I am handing off a very blessed archdiocese with many young families and many people who are deeply committed to the gospel.”

He shared a feeling of gratitude and joy for the opportunity to serve the diocese, knowing the faithful, and leading people to Christ. Aquila hopes that his community has found a deeper love of Christ and the sacraments through his service and an understanding of the importance of being missionary disciples.

“Of being those who go out themselves and invite others to encounter Christ and to come to know Jesus Christ. And proclaiming the, what we call the ‘kerygma,’ the basic good news of the gospel, or the joy of the gospel. That in Jesus Christ sin and death have been conquered, and He is the one that is the way to the Father,” Aquila said.

He said he hopes the diocese continues to grow in faith and that he believes Golka will be a good shepherd of that faith.

“The blessing is that my successor is an incredibly good man whose heart is on fire for Jesus Christ,” he shared. “And so, it’s like running a race and handing off the baton and saying, ‘Okay, you run with it.’ And knowing that Archbishop-designate Golka, who will be Archbishop Golka on Wednesday, that he will be one who continues caring for the gospel and making disciples for Christ.”

Golka’s installation as the new archbishop will begin with evening prayers at the CoBank Arena at the National Western Complex on March 24, followed by an Installation Mass the next day. A Mass of Taking Possession of the Cathedral will take place on March 26 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

With spring training wrapping up and opening day just a few days away, the Seattle Mariners continued to whittle down their roster on Sunday.

Drayer: Mariners to go with Garver as backup catcher

The Mariners optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda, right-handed reliever Cole Wilcox and right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A Tacoma. They also re-assigned first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe and infield prospect Brock Rodden to minor league camp.

The Mariners’ spring training roster is now at 31 players.

Pereda, 29, was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for cash in January. He was brought in to compete for Seattle’s backup catcher role, but Mariners insider Shannon Drayer reported earlier Sunday that veteran Mitch Garver will break camp as Cal Raleigh’s backup. Pereda batted .200 in 25 Cactus League at-bats this spring.

Wilcox, 26, flashed potential this spring after he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash last November. He struck out 11 batters across 8 1/3 innings in eight Cactus League appearances, while allowing four runs, six hits and four walks. Mariners manager Dan Wilson said earlier this month that “his stuff has been tremendous” and he “has opened some eyes.”

Zulueta, 28, struck out 10 batters across seven innings in eight Cactus League appearances, while allowing three runs, six hits and three walks. He was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in a January trade.

Joe, 33, signed a minor league contract with Seattle in February. The six-year MLB veteran had a strong spring, batting .362 with one home run, one triple and six doubles in 47 Cactus League at-bats.

Rodden, 25, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Mariners’ No. 18 prospect. A 2023 fifth-round draft pick out of Wichita State, Rodden hit .361 with two homers, one triple and one double in 36 Cactus League at-bats.

More on the Seattle Mariners

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• Seattle Mariners re-assign Colt Emerson to minor league camp
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