The San Francisco Giants are heading into the offseason with a clear to-do list-and second base is right at the top. While the front office, now led by Buster Posey, has been vocal about pitching being the offseason’s top priority, the situation at the keystone is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Let’s start with what they’ve got. Tyler Fitzgerald opened 2025 as the starting second baseman after a promising rookie year in 2024, where he slashed .280/.334/.497 in 96 games.
But that 32% strikeout rate was always a red flag, and sure enough, the regression came hard. This past season, Fitzgerald hit just .217/.278/.327, lost his starting role by the end of June, and spent the bulk of the second half in Triple-A trying to find his swing again.
That opened the door for Casey Schmitt, who ended up logging the most time at second. His final line-.237/.305/.401-lands him squarely in league-average territory, though that number’s a bit misleading.
A hot stretch in June carried much of his production, but after the All-Star break, he cooled off to .227/.282/.402. Not exactly the type of consistency you want from an everyday player.
Christian Koss, a light-hitting utility man, is the only other in-house option on the 40-man roster. All told, Giants second basemen combined to hit just .217/.273/.343 over the season.
That’s not going to cut it for a team trying to contend in a deep National League.
So, what are the options?
Free agency doesn’t offer much. A player like Bo Bichette would be a dream fit if he were open to moving off shortstop, but the Giants already have long-term money tied up in Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers on the infield.
Ha-Seong Kim, who declined his $16 million player option, is one of the better shortstops on the market and could be a target if San Francisco wants to get creative. But again, it’s a crowded infield.
Jorge Polanco has been a solid contributor when healthy, but knee issues have made him unreliable for everyday second base duty. And unless the Giants are planning to move on from some of their young bats, there won’t be many DH at-bats available to stash a player like Polanco. Luis Arraez brings elite contact skills and would be a clear offensive upgrade, but his defensive limitations have pushed him to first base over the last two years-another position where San Francisco is already invested.
The utility market-think Willi Castro, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Luis Rengifo, Adam Frazier-offers versatility but not much upside. These are stopgap players, not long-term solutions.
The trade market, however, might hold more promise. The Rays are reportedly open to discussing Brandon Lowe, who’s owed $11.5 million in the final year of his deal.
He’s a lefty bat with pop and a solid glove-exactly the kind of short-term solution that could stabilize the position. Then there’s Brendan Donovan, who’s drawing interest from over half the league.
The Cardinals are prioritizing pitching in return, and the Giants have a crop of controllable young arms-Landen Roupp, Hayden Birdsong, Trevor McDonald, Blade Tidwell, Carson Whisenhunt-who could get talks started.
If the Giants want to swing big, Ketel Marte would be a game-changer. But let’s be real: it’s hard to imagine the Diamondbacks moving him within the division, no matter what the return looks like.
Of course, second base isn’t the only concern. The Giants are trying to balance their positional needs with what’s shaping up to be a tricky offseason on the pitching front. Posey made it clear early on that pitching was the top priority, but since then, chairman Greg Johnson and GM Zack Minasian have both pumped the brakes on the idea of making a major long-term investment in the rotation.
Reports suggest the Giants are shopping in the mid-tier aisle of the free agent market. They’re not expected to sign Tatsuya Imai, and a nine-figure deal for a top-tier arm like Framber Valdez or Ranger Suárez seems unlikely. That tracks with the idea that San Francisco is looking for value and depth rather than making a headline-grabbing splash.
The bullpen also needs attention. Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers are both gone-Rogers would’ve hit free agency anyway-and breakout reliever Randy Rodríguez is out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The only addition so far? A one-year flyer on lefty Sam Hentges, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 2024 due to shoulder and knee surgeries.
So, what’s the big picture here?
The Giants are trying to thread a needle. They need to upgrade at second base, shore up a bullpen that’s been stripped down, and add starting pitching-all without committing to massive long-term contracts. It’s a tightrope walk, but with a deep farm system and a front office that’s shown a willingness to get creative, there’s a path forward.
Still, if they want to keep pace in a division that includes the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and a Padres team that’s always lurking, they’ll need to hit on a few of these moves. Second base might not be the flashiest position on the diamond, but for San Francisco, solving that puzzle could go a long way in shaping what kind of team they’ll be in 2026.