As Spring Training kicks into gear, the San Francisco Giants continue to fine-tune their roster, bringing in outfielder Will Brennan on a one-year major league deal. It’s a split contract worth $900,000 if he sticks in the big leagues and $400,000 in the minors, with that $400K guaranteed. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Giants moved right-hander Rowan Wick to the 60-day injured list.
Brennan, 28, was non-tendered by the Cleveland Guardians back in November. Originally an eighth-round pick in the 2019 draft out of Kansas State, he made his MLB debut in 2022 and has since compiled a .267/.307/.373 slash line over 269 games.
That comes with 14 home runs, 79 RBI, and a 90 wRC+ - which tells us he’s been just a tick below league average at the plate so far. Projection models aren’t expecting a breakout, forecasting similar production over a projected 377 plate appearances, along with slightly below-average defense.
But Brennan’s 2024 season showed some intriguing flashes. In 114 games, he hit .264/.309/.388 - good for a 98 wRC+, nearly league average.
Before a rib cage injury sidelined him, he was actually slashing .256/.314/.415 with a 107 wRC+, hinting at some extra-base potential. After a brief reset in Triple-A, he returned in August and finished strong, hitting .330/.349/.408 (117 wRC+) down the stretch.
That late-season surge, even in a limited sample, is something the Giants clearly took note of.
At Triple-A Columbus last year, Brennan hit .304 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 35 games. The bat-to-ball skills have always been a strength - he’s struck out just 12.7% of the time in the majors, mirroring his 12.6% rate in the minors. But while the contact is there, the walk rate has dipped significantly from 8.6% in the minors to just 4.4% in the bigs, limiting his on-base upside.
Injuries have played a role in his uneven career trajectory. Brennan underwent UCL surgery on his throwing arm in June after trying to gun down a runner from the outfield.
He followed that up with sports hernia surgery in September and also missed time in May due to forearm inflammation. That string of ailments has kept him from fully establishing himself at the MLB level.
Brennan is a left-handed hitter who’s been used mostly in platoon situations. He’s posted a .720 OPS against right-handers over 739 plate appearances, but he’s struggled mightily against lefties, managing just a .453 OPS in 127 trips to the plate. That split likely limits his role to the strong side of a platoon, at least for now.
On the basepaths, he’s shown some speed - 19 steals in 28 big league attempts, and 50-for-66 in the minors - but his sprint speed has dipped noticeably, falling from the 73rd percentile in 2023-24 to just the 39th percentile last season. That’s something to monitor as the Giants evaluate his potential as a bench piece or depth option.
He enters a crowded outfield picture in San Francisco. The Giants already have Heliot Ramos, Harrison Bader (who’s locked into center on a two-year, $20.5 million deal), and Jung Hoo Lee, who’s shifting to right.
Brennan will be competing for a bench role alongside Drew Gilbert, Luis Matos, Grant McCray, and Jerar Encarnacion. His remaining minor league options give the Giants some roster flexibility - a valuable asset in a long season.
In Brennan, the Giants are betting on a player with solid contact skills, defensive versatility, and a chance to contribute in a platoon role if he stays healthy. It’s a low-risk move with some upside if his late-2024 form proves sustainable.