The San Francisco Giants have made no secret about their focus this offseason: pitching, pitching, and more pitching. With a rotation that needs reinforcements and a bullpen that could use a few more reliable arms, that’s priority number one. But that doesn’t mean the front office isn’t keeping an eye on other areas of the roster-and second base has quietly emerged as a position they’re exploring for an upgrade.
According to reports, the Giants have shown interest in bolstering the keystone, with Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe surfacing as a potential trade target. While second base isn’t at the top of the team’s to-do list, it’s a spot where a marginal improvement could make a real impact-especially for a club that struggled to find offensive consistency in 2025.
Let’s start with what they already have. Casey Schmitt held down second base for much of last season and turned in a solid campaign.
He posted a .237/.305/.401 slash line with 12 homers and 40 RBIs-respectable numbers for a young infielder still finding his footing in the bigs. Defensively, he was steady, showing good range and reliable glove work.
If the Giants were to roll into 2026 with Schmitt penciled in as the Opening Day second baseman, they wouldn’t be in bad shape.
But there’s also a sense of déjà vu here. A year ago, the Giants felt confident in Tyler Fitzgerald following his breakout 2024 season.
Fast forward to 2025, and Fitzgerald’s bat cooled off significantly. That kind of regression is always a risk with young players, and it’s likely part of what’s driving the Giants to at least explore other options at the position.
One of those options is already off the board. Marcus Semien, a Bay Area native and one of the more appealing second base upgrades on the market, has signed with the Mets.
That takes a big name out of the mix. Still, there are other intriguing possibilities.
On the trade front, Brandon Lowe and Brendan Donovan are names to watch. Both would represent a clear step up offensively and bring playoff-caliber experience.
But acquiring either would likely require parting with assets the Giants may prefer to use in pursuit of pitching help.
Then there’s the free agent route. Ha-Seong Kim and Jorge Polanco are solid options who could provide a boost on both sides of the ball.
And if the Giants are willing to swing big, Bo Bichette-though more traditionally a shortstop-could be a high-end addition if the fit is right. The question, of course, is whether the Giants are willing to spend at that level, especially when they’ve been hesitant to commit major resources even to their top priority: the pitching staff.
It’s possible the Giants take a wait-and-see approach. If the market cools and a free agent remains unsigned into the new year, they could swoop in at a discounted price. That kind of opportunistic move would align with how they’ve operated in recent offseasons.
For now, the most likely scenario is that San Francisco enters 2026 with Schmitt, Fitzgerald, or another internal option manning second base. But the fact that the front office is even exploring upgrades suggests they’re not fully sold on the status quo. And in a National League that’s only getting more competitive, every incremental improvement matters.
Don’t expect a splash just yet-but keep an eye on second base. The Giants are clearly doing the same.