The Giants’ offseason picture looks fairly clear on one side of the roster and far murkier on the other. President of baseball operations Buster Posey has already made it plain that the position-player group is largely set, which pushes the spotlight to pitching - and that likely means San Francisco may need to subtract from its everyday mix to add arms.
That puts Casey Schmitt right in the middle of the conversation.
Schmitt, 27, put together a strong 2026 season before a torn meniscus shut him down. In 98 games, he hit .271/.301/.483 with 21 home runs and 55 runs batted in. There was a real chance he could have gotten to 30 homers, and he showed off his value by moving all over the field, logging time at all four infield spots and even left field.
On the surface, the cleanest answer is also the simplest one: make him the starting second baseman in 2027. He has shown he can handle the position, and keeping him there would let his bat stay in the lineup every day.
The Giants could also keep experimenting with him in left field, even if that isn’t his natural home. He held his own there, and that gives San Francisco another way to keep his offense on the field.
But there’s a catch. Schmitt’s .301 on-base percentage raises a red flag, and his lack of walks makes it fair to wonder whether the production he posted in 2026 can be repeated.
That’s where the trade conversation starts to make sense. If the Giants believe this was the right time to sell high - especially with Schmitt entering his first year of arbitration - he could become available.
And he would draw interest.
A player with power and defensive versatility always has a market, and the Seattle Mariners stand out as a logical match because of their need at third base. Schmitt is blocked there in San Francisco by Matt Chapman, even though third is his best position. Seattle, meanwhile, could use more offense after a disappointing 2026.
If the Giants go that route, they could target one of the Mariners’ starters: Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, or George Kirby. Seattle may be willing to move one of them because it has more solid starters than it needs, something the Giants can only wish for. San Francisco could pursue one of those pitchers with Schmitt as the centerpiece, either alone or in a package, as it tries to strengthen the rotation and the pitching staff overall.
It would be a painful decision. Schmitt is popular, and he was fun to watch this season. But the Giants need pitching, and they have not shown a willingness to spend heavily on it.
There is also real risk in moving him. San Francisco would be banking on Marcelo Mayer staying healthy and being good enough to take over at second base, while also trusting that its young outfielders can handle more responsibility. Those are significant unknowns, even with Schmitt having established himself over the past two seasons as a legitimate big leaguer.
So the Giants are left with a real conundrum. Schmitt could open next season as their second baseman, and that would make plenty of sense. Or he could be the piece they decide is worth moving if it helps them make a meaningful upgrade to the pitching staff.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Found An Outfield Answer In An Unlikely Trade
When the Giants sent a player to the Athletics in February 2024 and got Jonah Cox back, the move barely registered outside the front office. Now it looks a lot more interesting. Cox reached the majors on May 31, 2026, and in his first 53 games he has hit .294/.333/.445 with four home runs and 13 RBIs, giving San Francisco a young outfield option who has already shown he can handle himself at the plate.
The calling card has always been speed, and Cox has carried that into his rise through the organization after stealing plenty of bases in the minors. For a Giants club that is always piecing together its outfield picture, that kind of athleticism matters, and Cox is pushing his way into the conversation for a roster spot in 2027. The trade that once looked like a small depth move may have produced a much more meaningful answer than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Posey Just Made The Giants Top Offseason Need Pretty Clear
The Giants have spent much of the 2026 season trying to patch together innings late in games, and Buster Posey did not dance around the issue when he addressed the roster afterward. The bullpen has been a clear weak spot, and it has not helped that the club has been missing key relief arms because of trades and injuries. Posey said as much while indicating the front office will put real emphasis on fixing that area next winter.
What stands out in Poseys comments is the shape of the plan, not just the problem. He pointed toward adding veteran pitchers who can steady the group and also help bring along younger arms, which suggests the Giants are looking for more than a simple one-for-one replacement. At the same time, the infield looks far more settled, so the relief corps may be the offseason priority that defines how this roster gets reshaped. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have An Identity Problem Fans Might Actually Want
The Giants late-season surge has come with a twist that would have sounded unlikely a few months ago: the clubs best stretch has arrived as younger players have taken on more responsibility, and the tone around the roster has shifted with it. Injuries to veteran stars helped open the door, but the bigger development has been the way the kids have played once they got in. In a rebuilding year, that kind of momentum can matter as much as any short-term result.
Jonah Cox has been one of the more interesting examples since mid-August, turning a modest opening into something that looks like a real foothold over 29 games. For the Giants, the larger question now is less about whether the young group can play and more about what happens when the veterans return. The organization has seen a more aggressive, energized identity take hold, and the uncertain part is whether that approach carries over into next season or gets crowded out by the old hierarchy. [Read more 🡒]