The Giants have their manager. The Dodgers have their dynasty.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey handled his first order of business this offseason by hiring Tony Vitello after firing Bob Melvin. Having checked that box, Posey and general manager Zack Minasian will shift their attention to building the team that Vitello leads.
Posey has not been shy about acquiring star power, signing Willy Adames to a franchise-record deal then trading for three-time All-Star Rafael Devers — and inheriting roughly $250 million of salary. While this free agency class features big names who will make big money, Posey doesn’t necessarily need to go star hunting.
The Giants could make another statement by doling out another big contract to another big star, but it’s more likely that they spread their money around to address multiple areas of need.
Here’s a primer ahead of Posey’s second offseason at the helm:
Who are the Giants’ impending free agents?
The Giants have three impending free agents in designated hitter Wilmer Flores, first baseman Dominic Smith and right-hander Justin Verlander.
San Francisco’s brass didn’t rule out the possibility of re-uniting with Flores, Smith or Verlander, but it’s possible that all three have played their final games as Giants.
Catcher Tom Murphy should also become a free agent as well. Murphy has only played 13 games since signing a two-year, $8.25 million contract due to injury, and the Giants are all but guaranteed to decline his $4 million club option for next season.
Who are the Giants’ arbitration-eligible players?
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi, catcher Andrew Knizner and right-hander JT Brubaker should represent the Giants’ three arbitration-eligible players. MLB Trade Rumors projects Brubaker to make $2.1 million, Lucchesi to make $2 million and Knizner to make $1.3 million.
Catcher Patrick Bailey and right-hander Ryan Walker, who were both called up on May 19, 2023, were both candidates for Super Two status, which would’ve made them eligible for arbitration. Unfortunately for them, they’re both likely to just miss the mark — and miss out on a pay raise.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, this year’s Super Two cutoff is expected to be around 2.140 years of service time. Bailey and Walker, though, only have 2.136 years of service time. For the Giants, Bailey and Walker failing to meet Super Two status amounts to saving about $4-5 million.
What’s the Giants salary outlook?
The Giants enter their offseason with a good amount of money tied up long term, but they should have enough financial flexibility to address this team’s biggest needs without pinching pennies.
Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Robbie Ray, Jung Hoo Lee and Logan Webb will combine to make somewhere in the range $140 million next season. For all the money those six make, a good chunk of next year’s roster will feature pre-arbitration players, a list that could include Bailey, Walker, Heliot Ramos, Landen Roupp, Casey Schmitt and (potentially) Bryce Eldridge.
The Giants exceeded the luxury tax threshold in 2024 and paid $2.4 million in penalties as first-time offenders, but they got under the threshold this season and reset the penalties.
“We’re always open to the situation,” said Giants chairman Greg Johnson. “We’ve proven that in the past. We don’t look at it from a cap number or anything. I think we’ve got a lot of money tied up long term with a lot of players right now, and that creates a little less flexibility. But if we feel like the right situation is there, we’ll certainly bump up in the payroll.”
Said Posey of payroll: “The cliché answer is that we’re going to look around, consider the market and do what we feel is best for our current roster — and how those decisions may or may not impact the immediate and the future.”
What are the Giants’ biggest needs?
The Giants need pitching — point, blank, period.
The team talked at length about their starting pitching depth during spring training, but that unit weakened as the season went along due to a myriad of different reasons.
Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks were sent to Boston as part of the Devers trade. Hayden Birdsong was optioned in July after suddenly losing his command and never returned. Roupp suffered a gnarly bone bruise in his left knee in late August and missed the stretch run. Carson Whisenhunt battled inconsistency and injury.
Webb, a first-time Gold Glove Award winner, and Ray can be penned into next year’s starting rotation. Roupp doesn’t boast the same résumé, but he likely performed well enough to deserve a spot in next year’s rotation. That leaves, at the minimum, two spots to fill, and the Giants need to back up the Brink’s truck to fill out its rotation.
Zac Gallen is coming off a down year. Shane Bieber has only pitched 52 1/3 innings in the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. Merrill Kelly turned in a solid season but recently turned 37-years-old. Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai is likely to be posted by the Seibu Lions after posting a career-low 1.92 ERA. With Ray set to become a free agent after next season, it would make sense for the Giants to sign at least one starter worthy of a multi-year deal.
There’s also the matter of the bullpen, a unit that was decimated by injuries and trades.
At full strength, last year’s unit featured All-Star Randy Rodríguez, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker. By season’s end, Doval and Rogers were traded and Rodríguez underwent Tommy John surgery
Walker, despite the worst season of his career, is a lock to return to next year’s bullpen, especially with him not being arbitration eligible. Erik Miller, who missed the last three months due to a left elbow sprain, is a strong candidate as well.
The Giants can fill some of their bullpen with a combination of internal options and minor-league free agents, but they’ll likely need to dedicate some money to acquiring a true power arm or two. Spending on relievers is an inherently risky gambit, but it’s San Francisco’s best bet given their pitching depht. A reunion with Rogers may not be out of the question either.
On the position player side, it wouldn’t be outlandish for the Giants to consider pursuing a center fielder.
Jung Hoo Lee had a fine year offensively (110 OPS+) in his first full major-league season but was worth -5 outs above average and -18 defensive runs saved. Given Heliot Ramos’ own defensive struggles (-9 outs above average), the Giants’ defense could greatly benefit from a defensive-minded center fielder such as Harrison Bader or Cedric Mullins to stabilize the outfield defense.
On the lower end of the priority list is backup catcher. Bailey and his backups ranked 28th in OPS last season, and the Giants will likely give Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the Doval trade, an opportunity to win a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The Giants enter the fall with a foundation that can, at the minimum, compete for the playoffs. Despite finishing last season with an 81-81 record, Webb described last year’s team as “the most talented team I’ve been on.” The coming weeks and months will determine whether next year’s bunch can snatch that claim.
