The Giants may be done chasing anything meaningful in the standings, but the final stretch still matters plenty for a handful of players trying to salvage their own seasons.
For some, the mission is simple: stay on the roster. For others, it’s about showing enough to remain part of the plan beyond this year. And in a few cases, it’s just about leaving with something better than a disappointing line on the stat sheet.
Daniel Susac is one of the clearest examples. The Giants liked what they saw from him early enough this season that they were willing to trade away Patrick Bailey.
But Susac has cooled off since that hot start, and injuries have slowed him down too. He’s hitting .264/.308/.336 with no home runs and 14 RBI, which is fine production, but not exactly the kind of line that screams “catcher of the future.”
His Rule 5 status adds another layer here: the Giants have to keep him on the roster all season or the A’s can get him back. He should be safe, but San Francisco is carrying three rookie catchers, so if Drew Cavanaugh and Jesus Rodriguez keep performing, Susac could suddenly find himself squeezed.
Trevor McDonald is in a different spot, but the pressure is real all the same. The Giants look likely to turn more of the rotation over to younger arms after the trade deadline, especially if Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle are moved.
That opens a door for McDonald to make a case for next year’s rotation. So far, though, his season has been uneven, reflected in a 5.12 ERA.
He also had to leave Monday night’s game because of an elbow issue, which only adds more uncertainty to a finish that needs to be strong if he wants to factor into the 2027 rotation.
Grant McCray’s situation is more about opportunity than performance. He’s on the big league roster because Jonah Cox, Victor Bericoto, and Harrison Bader are all on the IL, and that’s not a comfortable place to live.
McCray’s speed has always made him intriguing, but it feels like Drew Gilbert has already moved ahead of him. With only a couple at-bats this season, McCray needs to make an impression fast.
Once those outfielders are healthy, he’ll probably be heading back down, and if he doesn’t show something soon, he may never really break through with the Giants.
Adrian Houser still has a chance to change the conversation, too. The Giants signed him to a multi-year deal in the offseason expecting him to be a solid starter, but he’s in the bullpen now and could get another shot in the rotation if he isn’t dealt at the deadline.
He probably isn’t the kind of player teams will be scrambling to acquire, which makes him fairly safe, especially with next season already on the books. But if Houser wants to stay in San Francisco’s plans beyond this year, these closing months have to go well.
Then there’s Willy Adames, whose season has been rough enough that even his biggest moments have come with a catch. On Monday night, he hit a game-tying homer with the Giants down to their final out, only to follow it with a boneheaded defensive play that cost the Giants the game.
That’s been the story too often this year. A trade would be difficult, so Adames needs to show that this season is just a minor blip and not the start of a longer decline.
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The interest matters because these are the kinds of players contenders often circle when they start sorting out what they can add without overpaying for a bigger name. Ramos brings upside, but his profile comes with some defensive questions, while Schmitts appeal is rooted in versatility and power, the sort of combination that can quietly swing a deadline conversation if a team decides the fit is right. [Read more 🡒]
Buster Posey Just Sparked A Giants Debate Fans Never Expected
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As president of baseball operations, Posey has had a more uneven run, with the Giants sitting at 42-57 and several offseason moves not quite landing the way the club hoped. One of those moves was bringing in Justin Verlander on a one-year, $15 million deal, and after a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts, the veteran right-hander announced he will retire at seasons end, leaving Poseys front-office evaluation very much open as the organization tries to sort out where it stands. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Broadcaster Just Put Tony Vitellos Biggest Problem In Focus
Tony Vitellos first season managing the Giants has already come with the kind of transition pains that tend to follow a jump from the college game to the majors. The learning curve is not just about lineup cards and bullpen calls. It is also about authority, and broadcaster Dave Flemming recently zeroed in on the part of Vitellos adjustment that may matter most: whether he is being too deferential to veteran players when the job calls for a firmer hand.
For a club trying to establish its own standards, that question lingers around every clubhouse miscue and every moment when a manager chooses not to make a public example of it. Vitello has shown a willingness to avoid open conflict, which can be understandable for a first-year skipper trying to earn trust, but it also leaves a bigger issue hanging over the Giants. The organization is not treating this as a one-and-done experiment, so the real pressure now is on Vitello to show he can balance respect with command before the seasons growing pains harden into a pattern. [Read more 🡒]