Rawlings’ 2026 Gold Glove finalists came out on Wednesday, and the SF Giants were nowhere to be found.
That was hardly a shock. The club had no finalists in the mix, and there won’t be any second chance to change that. The voting is already done, and the winners will be announced on November 1, 2026.
For a couple of years now, the Giants’ defensive backbone has centered around Logan Webb, Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman. But this season thinned that group out fast. Chapman and Webb missed a big chunk of the year, while Bailey was dealt to the Cleveland Guardians in May.
Even so, Chapman might have given the Giants their best individual defensive argument. He missed roughly half the season, but he still finished as the top defensive third baseman.
Through August 9, 2026, he posted an 11.3 on the SABR Defensive Index, a number that placed him not just at the top of the hot corner, but among the best defenders in baseball overall. That matters because the SDI makes up about 25 percent of Gold Glove voting.
Still, the missed time likely kept him from getting serious consideration.
The broader picture for San Francisco was less encouraging. The Giants had a handful of solid defensive performances from Daniel Susac, Luis Arráez, Jonah Cox and Drew Gilbert, but nobody who truly separated from the pack.
Willy Adames, meanwhile, was one of the poorest defenders by the numbers. The Giants think a lingering back issue probably had something to do with it.
The club also had problems in the outfield, though center field was the exception. Gilbert and Cox both graded out as above-average defenders there, but the corners remain a concern.
Jung Hoo Lee is signed for three more seasons, and a move to left field should be on the table.
If there was one player who could have sneaked into the discussion, it was Casey Schmitt. The Giants have handed a Gold Glove to a utility player in recent years, and Schmitt fits that mold after seeing time at five positions in 2026.
Third base is his natural spot, but he also handled several others and even picked up left field on the fly this season. His year ended early after a knee injury in late July, though he should have a normal offseason.
In Other News...
Giants Still Have One Possible Edge In Tarik Skubal Pursuit
Tarik Skubals free agency figure is already drawing plenty of attention around the Bay Area, and the Giants have a natural thread to pull on with a pitcher who grew up close enough to know the region well. With the Dodgers out of the postseason and speculation swirling about whether they will try to keep the left-hander, the market for one of the top names available figures to get crowded quickly. San Francisco can point to home-area familiarity as a possible advantage, even if there is still plenty of uncertainty about how aggressively it will move.
The bigger question is whether that connection matters enough to outweigh the usual free-agent calculus of money and winning. Skubal is going to have choices, and the Giants will need to decide whether they are willing to present a deal that belongs in the top tier of the market. For now, there have been no official moves, just the sense that San Francisco has at least one possible edge if it chooses to press its case. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Pitching Overhaul Keeps Taking Shape Behind The Scenes
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For the Giants, the pitching need is hardly a mystery. Randy Rodriguez is in the Arizona Fall League as part of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and the club is expected to pursue additional bullpen help even with his rehab moving along. Around the division, the Rockies are reshaping their own pitching operation too, considering a new coaching role tied to advance reports and in-game adjustments after moving on from pitching coach Alon Leichman after just one season. The dominoes are already falling in different directions, and San Francisco will be watching closely as the market for arms takes form. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Have A Matt Chapman Question They Cant Ignore
Matt Chapmans first season in San Francisco did not play out the way the Giants envisioned when they committed to him, even if the glove stayed dependable. His offense slipped during the 2026 season, finishing with a .235/.324/.368 line, seven home runs and 42 RBIs before a core muscle injury ended his year and sent him to season-ending surgery.
Now the Giants have to balance what Chapman still brings defensively with the uncertainty around his health and production moving forward. With a long-term commitment on the books, the organization is expected to be more careful with him in 2027, hoping that a lighter workload can help preserve both his availability and the bat that has become too important to leave to chance. [Read more 🡒]