The San Francisco Giants are adding depth to their outfield as spring training kicks off, signing former Cleveland Guardians outfielder Will Brennan. It’s a low-risk move with potential upside-exactly the kind of late-offseason pickup that could quietly pay dividends down the road.
Brennan, a 28-year-old left-handed hitter and thrower, comes over after spending his entire professional career with Cleveland. Drafted in the eighth round back in 2019 out of Kansas State, he’s seen action in parts of four big-league seasons. While his 2025 campaign was limited-just six games and one hit in 11 at-bats-he’s shown flashes of consistency in the past, batting .266 in 2023 and .264 in 2024.
Now, let’s be clear: Brennan’s not coming in to push for a starting role, especially with the Giants having already signed Harrison Bader to patrol center field. Brennan doesn’t project as a center fielder, and his major league track record suggests he’s more of a depth piece than an everyday contributor. But there’s still value in that, especially over the grind of a 162-game season.
Across 269 MLB games, Brennan owns a .680 OPS and has swiped 19 bags in 28 attempts. That puts him in the realm of a replacement-level player-someone who can hold his own when called upon but isn’t necessarily going to move the needle on his own. Still, those are the types of players that often prove valuable over the course of a long season, especially when injuries inevitably hit.
At best, Brennan could carve out a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster as a left-handed bat off the bench or a platoon option in the corner outfield. If not, he’ll likely open the year in Triple-A, waiting for an opportunity to break through. Either way, this marks a fresh start for Brennan-his first time outside the Guardians organization-and a chance to show he can still contribute at the big-league level.
For the Giants, it’s a classic spring training flyer. No pressure, low cost, and maybe, just maybe, a little reward waiting on the other side.