The San Francisco Giants are heading into the new season with a clear goal: move beyond mediocrity and get back into the playoff conversation. After hovering around the .500 mark in recent years, the pressure is mounting-not just from the fanbase, but from a front office that knows it’s time to take a real step forward.

So far, though, the Giants’ offseason has been quiet. They’ve added a few under-the-radar pieces, including left-hander Sam Hentges and righty JT Brubaker.

Solid depth moves, sure-but not exactly the kind of signings that shift the balance of power in the NL West. And if San Francisco wants to be more than just a fringe contender, they’re going to need more than just solid.

What they really need is another frontline starter-someone who can stabilize the rotation and eat innings at a high level. The good news?

There are still quality arms available on the market. Framber Valdez is the big name still unsigned, and his ability to induce ground balls and work deep into games would be a major asset.

But there’s a real question about whether the Giants are willing to meet the price tag that comes with a pitcher of his caliber.

That’s where Lucas Giolito enters the conversation.

According to a recent report, Giolito may actually be the best fit for what the Giants need right now. And when you look at the numbers-and the ballpark-it starts to make a lot of sense.

Let’s break it down: Giolito had a bit of a bounce-back year, but he still gave up his fair share of hard contact. His ground-ball rate sat at 39.5%, and opposing hitters averaged 90.3 mph in exit velocity against him-both marks below league average.

He wasn’t missing a ton of bats, and when hitters made contact, they often got it in the air. That’s usually a recipe for trouble.

But here’s where Oracle Park comes into play. Statcast ranks it as the second-toughest park in baseball for home run hitters.

It’s a cavernous outfield, especially in right-center, and it tends to suppress long balls like few other stadiums in the league. For a guy like Giolito-who gives up more fly balls than you’d like-that’s a huge advantage.

In San Francisco, many of those barrels that would leave the yard elsewhere turn into warning-track flyouts. That’s not just a nice-to-have-it could be a career-saver for a pitcher trying to regain consistency.

Slotting Giolito in as the No. 3 starter would be an ideal scenario for the Giants. He’s no longer the dominant ace he once looked like in Chicago, but he’s still capable of giving you quality innings and keeping his team in games. He’s durable, he’s experienced, and in the right environment, he could be a highly effective piece in a contending rotation.

And make no mistake: the Giants need that kind of arm. With the Dodgers reloading and the Diamondbacks on the rise, San Francisco can’t afford to stand still. If they want to hang around in the postseason race, bringing in a pitcher like Giolito-one who fits both the ballpark and the budget-might be the kind of smart, strategic move that helps them turn the corner.

The talent is still there. The question is whether the Giants are ready to take the leap.