Since the trade deadline, the SF Giants have been using these final weeks to sort through the roster and see who can stick around. Some players have made the case for 2027, with Jonah Cox standing out as one of the names that looks close to a lock. Others, though, have done the opposite.
Three players in particular have put themselves in a rough spot with the way they’ve played lately, and their chances of being part of next year’s picture look slim.
Grant McCray is the clearest example. The outfielder has kept getting chances at the end of each of the last three seasons, but the offense has never really come around.
He’s slashing .155/.259/.296 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. The speed is real, and so are the defensive tools - his arm, range, and stolen-base ability have always been part of the appeal - but that may not be enough anymore.
With six stolen bases and more outfield options pushing into the mix, this may have been McCray’s final shot to convince the Giants he belongs. A DFA in the offseason would not be a surprise as the club tries to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Nate Furman is in a different spot, but the result may end up being the same. The Giants have leaned on a wave of infield fill-ins while their regular starters have been hurt, and those players are effectively fighting for one or two bench jobs next season.
Furman hasn’t helped his case much, batting just .125/.243/.125 in 32 at-bats. There’s still something interesting about his contact-oriented game, and that kind of profile can eventually play in the majors.
But right now he looks more like a work in progress than a ready-made option. Even if Christian Koss keeps committing errors at shortstop, Furman still figures to sit behind him on the depth chart and spend most of next year in the minors unless injuries open a door.
Then there’s Brett Harris, who was claimed off waivers and stepped into the kind of temporary infield role the Giants have been forced to patch together. He hasn’t had much time to make an impression, but the early returns haven’t been encouraging.
He has only a couple hits on the season, and with so many players on the 60-day IL, the Giants will likely need to create space on the 40-man roster. That makes Harris a strong candidate to be DFA’d at some point.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Quietly Solved A Daniel Susac Roster Problem
Daniel Susacs lost 2023 season still carried an important roster consequence for the Giants, even after the left knee patella fracture ended his year. Because he spent enough time on the active roster as a Rule 5 draft pick, San Francisco cleared the service-time hurdle needed to ease the usual Rule 5 restrictions, a small bookkeeping detail with a long shelf life.
Starting in 2027, the Giants can treat Susac like any other 40-man player instead of worrying about the special Rule 5 clock attached to him. In practical terms, that gives the club far more flexibility and control over his future, with team control stretching through at least 2031, which is exactly the kind of quiet roster win front offices value even when it barely registers at the time. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Prospect Jonah Cox Is Forcing A Real Roster Debate
Jonah Cox has spent this season turning raw athleticism into a real argument for the Giants future. The rookie outfielder has already led the club in stolen bases despite limited games played, and his speed has not been the only thing catching attention. His defensive range and ability to move around the outfield have given San Francisco another layer of flexibility, while his aggressive baserunning has stood out enough that coaches have taken notice.
For a Giants roster still sorting out how best to build for next spring, Cox is no longer just a promising name in the system. He is making a case for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and it is a case built on more than one tool. Speed can be fleeting in prospect talk, but when it comes with real impact on the bases and in the field, it starts to create a tougher decision than the club probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Outfield Problem To Solve This Winter
The Giants outfield remains one of the more unsettled parts of the roster heading into the winter, even after a season that showed some signs of improvement. San Francisco was still near the bottom of several defensive metrics in 2025, a reminder that the group has not fully recovered from last years issues, and the clubs decision to bring in Harrison Bader last offseason did not deliver the kind of stabilizing presence it was hoping for. He appeared in only 30 games, leaving the Giants with less certainty than they expected in a spot that was supposed to be strengthened.
There is at least a brighter note in center field, where contributions from Drew Gilbert and Jonah Cox helped the team move in a better direction. The problem is that the corners remain a different story, and that is where the Giants still have work to do. With possible positional shifts on the table and more attempts to upgrade likely ahead, the front office is still staring at one outfield issue that has not gone away. [Read more 🡒]