The San Francisco Giants are heading into the second half with a long injured list and a lot of moving parts. The biggest names are still working their way back, and for several pitchers, the wait is going to stretch well beyond this season.
Third baseman Matt Chapman is the most important player currently sidelined. He has been out since July 1 with an abdominal strain, and he has stayed in San Francisco while rehabbing.
The target is a return during the next homestand, sometime between July 24-29. If that happens, Chapman will have missed about three to four weeks, a notable chunk of time for a lineup that has leaned on him all year.
Outfielder Harrison Bader has been out even longer. Left plantar fasciitis sent him to the injured list on May 30, but he is still aiming for a second-half return. He has been doing all baseball activities and has even started ramping up his baserunning, which points toward a rehab assignment getting closer.
The Giants also took hits from oblique strains in quick succession. Jonah Cox landed on the IL on July 8, retroactive to July 6, and Victor Bericoto followed shortly after.
Cox has been rehabbing in San Francisco, while Bericoto has not yet returned to baseball activity. Both are listed as second-half returns, though neither has a specific target date.
Left-handed reliever Matt Gage went on the IL July 4 with a left elbow strain and got a PRP injection on July 11. He will be reevaluated after four weeks, which puts him on track for a mid-August return if everything goes smoothly. The next month will be about how the elbow responds, since PRP treatment usually comes with a stretch of rest.
Right-hander Joel Peguero hit another snag when hamstring tightness sent him back to flat-ground throwing during the weekend of July 10-12. He has been on the 60-day IL since June 1, and the setback pushes his return deeper into the second half. He still has plenty of work ahead before he can even begin a rehab assignment, since he has to rebuild his throwing program first.
Jose Butto is also in the middle of a slow comeback after right arm surgery in April. He is throwing four times a week and has stretched it out to 105 feet.
September is a possible return window, but that could also slide into 2027. For now, his second-half availability remains uncertain.
There are three Giants pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery, a reminder of how much the staff has been tested. Hayden Birdsong had season-ending surgery on March 25 and is not expected back until sometime in 2027.
Randy Rodriguez underwent the procedure on September 24, 2025, and with a 12- to 14-month timeline, his return could come in late 2026 or even 2027. Rowan Wick had Tommy John surgery in November 2025 and will miss the entire 2026 season.
In Other News...
Giants Linked To Trade Idea That Would Cost Two Trusted Pieces
A speculative trade idea from Jim Bowden of The Athletic has the Giants in the middle of a deal that would bring in a frontline arm while asking San Francisco to part with two young, controllable pieces. The concept is built around Seattle dealing from its starting rotation depth to help solve offensive and bullpen needs, a framework that at least makes sense on paper for a Mariners club trying to balance the roster around its pitching strength.
For the Giants, the appeal is obvious because a pitcher of that caliber would fit into a rotation that can always use another proven starter. But the cost is steep, especially when the return would come from players the organization has reason to value for the long haul, and the fact that both are controlled well into the future only sharpens the question of whether San Francisco would really want to move that kind of stability for a hypothetical upgrade now. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have Trade Deadline Leverage Fans Did Not Expect
The Yankees outfield situation has become one of the more interesting ripple effects to watch as the trade deadline approaches, and it has a way of putting the Giants right in the middle of the conversation. With Aaron Judge still sidelined by a rib fracture, New York has reason to at least explore outside help, which naturally turns attention toward clubs with outfield depth and players who could be moved without completely emptying the roster.
For San Francisco, that means a suddenly useful kind of leverage. Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos and Harrison Bader all give the Giants different ways to answer calls, whether a rival is looking for upside, power or a more affordable fit. The question now is not whether the market will come asking, but which of those names the Giants are actually willing to make available when the phone starts ringing. [Read more 🡒]