The San Francisco Giants are heading into 2026 with a roster that raises more questions than answers-and not the kind that come with championship buzz. After a decade that’s largely felt like a holding pattern, this offseason’s moves (or lack thereof) suggest the front office might be treating 2026 as a bridge year rather than a real push for October baseball.
A Belief in the Core-or a Pause Button?
There are two ways to look at what the Giants are doing. One is optimistic: maybe they believe this group is better than the 81-win team we saw in 2025.
Maybe they think a new coaching staff, led by Tony Vitello, can unlock something that wasn’t there last season. That’s a bold bet, especially considering how disjointed the team looked at times.
It puts a lot on Vitello’s plate right out of the gate.
The other way to view it? This might just be a gap year. A season to tread water while waiting for something bigger-whether that’s a better free-agent class, a new CBA, or internal development to take hold.
Rotation Reinforcements-or Just Stopgaps?
The Giants added Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle to the rotation, both coming off solid seasons, but neither comes with much long-term certainty. Houser’s track record is inconsistent, and Mahle has struggled to stay healthy.
These aren’t the kind of signings that scream “win-now.” They’re more like stabilizers-veteran arms who can eat innings and keep things respectable.
That’s a tough sell for a team that prides itself on pitching and defense. According to Fangraphs, the Giants’ rotation projects to be among the worst in baseball by fWAR. If that projection holds, it’s going to be a long summer by the Bay.
Bullpen Still a Work in Progress
The bullpen was a problem last year, and it hasn’t been meaningfully overhauled. Injuries and trades depleted the group down the stretch in 2025, and the 2026 version already has its share of question marks.
Randy Rodríguez is out for the year after Tommy John surgery. Ryan Walker and Joel Peguero are likely battling it out for the closer role, but the bullpen is still heavy on middle relievers and light on high-leverage arms.
Sam Hentges and Jason Foley are new additions, but both are coming off shoulder surgeries. Foley might not even return until midseason.
Gregory Santos is back on a minor league deal, but he’s struggled to stay healthy and has barely pitched over the past few years. On paper, this bullpen looks eerily similar to the one that struggled to finish games last season.
Defense: Infield Strong, Outfield... Not So Much
The infield defense is a clear strength. Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman bring Gold Glove pedigree. Willy Adames bounced back defensively after a rough start last year, and the Giants believe Rafael Devers can handle first base with time.
But the outfield? That’s another story.
Last year’s group posted a league-worst -18 Outs Above Average. And while Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee return to left and center, right field remains wide open.
Drew Gilbert, Jerar Encarnación, Luis Matos, and Grant McCray are all in the mix, but none is a clear solution. Gilbert showed defensive promise late last season, but whether his bat plays at the big-league level is still up in the air. Unless someone takes a big step forward, the Giants could be rolling out the same outfield that struggled mightily in 2025.
A Quiet Offseason After a Big-Spending Stretch
This offseason has felt strangely quiet-especially when you consider what the Giants did over the previous 16 months. They spent over $500 million to bring in Chapman, Adames, and Devers, locking in a core of proven talent.
But since then? Crickets.
The rotation has been patched, not upgraded. The bullpen still has holes.
The outfield remains a defensive liability. And with spring training just weeks away, it doesn’t seem like more moves are coming.
Meanwhile, the franchise made headlines for a different kind of acquisition-purchasing San Francisco’s historic Curran Theatre. That’s led to some fair questions about where ownership’s focus lies. Are they more interested in real estate than roster construction?
What’s the Plan?
There’s a core in place. That much is clear.
But the rest of the roster feels incomplete, and the lack of urgency this winter is hard to ignore. Maybe the Giants are playing the long game, waiting for the next CBA or for their young talent to develop.
Maybe they’re betting on internal improvement and better health. Maybe they really do believe this team, with a new coaching staff, can outperform last year’s results.
But from the outside looking in, it feels like the Giants are standing still. And in a league where standing still often means falling behind, that’s a risky strategy.
Hope can be a powerful thing in baseball. But it’s not a plan. And unless the Giants have something up their sleeve, 2026 might be more about staying afloat than making a splash.