Even with Spring Training officially underway, the San Francisco Giants aren’t done tinkering with their roster. Just days after adding veteran reliever Rowan Wick to bolster the bullpen, they’ve now turned their attention to the outfield, signing 28-year-old Will Brennan to a split contract for the 2026 season.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a headline-grabbing acquisition. But it’s the kind of depth move that smart front offices make to shore up the margins - and sometimes, those margins matter more than we think.
Brennan comes over from Cleveland, where he’s logged 866 plate appearances in the big leagues with a career slash line of .267/.307/.373. That’s not the kind of production that jumps off the page, but it’s solid enough to keep him in the conversation as a serviceable platoon option.
Against right-handed pitching - his bread and butter - he’s posted a .720 OPS. Against lefties?
A much steeper drop to .453. In other words, this is a player who’s likely to be deployed situationally, not as an everyday fixture.
What Brennan lacks in power or speed, he offsets with one key trait: he doesn’t strike out. His strikeout rate in the majors (12.7%) mirrors his minor league numbers (12.6%) almost exactly.
That kind of contact ability is increasingly rare in today’s game, and while it hasn’t translated into standout offensive production at the big-league level, it does give him a floor as a reliable bat-to-ball guy. His walk rate, however, has taken a hit - dropping from 8.6% in the minors to just 4.4% in the majors - which limits his on-base upside.
Defensively, Brennan is capable of handling all three outfield spots, though he’s not going to win any Gold Gloves. His sprint speed, once hovering in the 73rd percentile, dipped to the 39th percentile last season, and he’s never been a major stolen base threat - swiping 19 bags in 28 MLB attempts, with 50 steals in 66 tries down in the minors. He profiles more as a steady presence than a game-changer in the field.
One wrinkle to keep an eye on: Brennan underwent UCL surgery on his throwing arm last June after injuring it while gunning down Gavin Lux at home plate. The Giants expect him to be fully recovered in time for camp, and his contract reflects that uncertainty.
It’s a split deal - $900,000 if he sticks in the majors, $400,000 if he’s in the minors - giving the Giants flexibility while minimizing risk. If he spends half the year at each level, he’d earn around $650,000.
If he makes the Opening Day roster and stays there? He’ll earn a modest $120,000 above the league minimum.
Internally, the Giants have had their eye on Brennan for a while. According to the front office, there’s familiarity with his game from both Tony Vitello and Jayce Tingler - a sign that this wasn’t a shot in the dark. There’s even some chatter about whether Brennan could emerge as a Christian Koss-type pickup - a low-profile addition who ends up playing a bigger role than expected.
The Giants have also added outfielders Joey Wiemer and Justin Dean this offseason, so Brennan enters a crowded picture. But what separates him is his left-handed bat, his ability to play all three outfield spots, and the fact that he still has minor league options - a valuable asset for roster maneuvering throughout a long season.
At the very least, Brennan gives San Francisco a platoon-friendly, contact-oriented outfielder who can hold his own defensively and offer insurance should younger options like Grant McCray stumble. And if things break right?
He could be more than just organizational depth. He could be a quiet contributor on a team that knows the value of versatility.