With spring training just two weeks away, the San Francisco Giants are running out of time - and options - to reshape a roster that still feels incomplete. In a move that signals growing urgency, the front office recently showed a willingness to part with one of its top young prospects, teenage shortstop Josuar Gonzalez, in trade talks with the Washington Nationals for infielder CJ Abrams.
That offer, according to league sources, wasn’t enough to get a deal done.
Abrams, a 25-year-old shortstop with All-Star credentials from 2024, is coming off a season where he posted a 111 OPS+, slugged 19 home runs, and stole 31 bases. He’s a dynamic, top-of-the-order threat - the kind of player who could have immediately raised the Giants’ offensive ceiling and brought some much-needed athleticism to the infield.
With three years of club control remaining and a modest $4.2 million salary for 2026, Abrams would’ve been more than just a short-term upgrade. He would’ve been a foundational piece.
In San Francisco, the plan was to slide Abrams in at second base, pushing Casey Schmitt into a super-utility role - one that might’ve included reps at first base against lefties. It would’ve given the Giants more flexibility, more speed, and a more balanced lineup.
But the Nationals, fresh off a five-prospect haul in the MacKenzie Gore trade with Texas, weren’t ready to move Abrams without a similarly enticing return. Names like Carson Whisenhunt, Jacob Bresnahan, Bo Davidson, and Jhonny Level - all well-regarded Giants prospects - were reportedly discussed.
Davidson and Level, in particular, just cracked Baseball America’s top 100 list this week at Nos. 87 and 98, respectively. Still, even if the Giants had put all five names on the table, there’s no indication Washington would’ve said yes.
This isn’t an isolated case. Whether it’s been talks with the Nationals for Abrams, the Cardinals for Brendan Donovan, or the Marlins for Edward Cabrera (who ultimately went to the Cubs), the Giants have consistently run into the same wall: other clubs simply aren’t valuing their top minor-league talent the way San Francisco does internally.
And that disconnect has left the Giants staring down an offseason that’s been more frustrating than fruitful.
The rotation appears set after adding Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, but the position player group remains largely untouched. Outside of acquiring catching prospect Daniel Susac in a Rule 5 draft trade, there have been no major additions.
The outfield picture is still murky, with no clear answer in right field. Waiver claims Joey Wiemer and Justin Dean - both solid gloves - have already landed elsewhere after being designated for assignment.
That leaves a group of unproven options: Drew Gilbert, Luis Matos, Grant McCray, and Jerar Encarnacion. Not exactly a stable mix heading into camp.
The infield isn’t in much better shape. The Giants haven’t replaced the bats of Dom Smith or Wilmer Flores, and unless top prospect Bryce Eldridge makes a surprise leap to the big leagues, the designated hitter spot could be a revolving door to start the year.
Landing Abrams would’ve helped solve several of those problems in one swing. Instead, the Giants are back to scanning the free-agent market - and there are still a few intriguing names left.
One name gaining traction is Harrison Bader. The 31-year-old center fielder was a sparkplug after landing in Philadelphia last July, hitting .305 with 17 home runs and a 111 OPS+ over 50 games.
He also scored 30 runs in that stretch and continued to flash his elite glove in center. Bader is reportedly seeking a three-year deal, and while the Giants aren’t eager to tack on more long-term money - especially with big contracts already committed to Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Willy Adames - they also know it doesn’t make much sense to invest in a core if you’re not going to support it properly in its prime.
Another potential fit? Luis Arraez.
The 28-year-old contact machine led the National League with 181 hits last season and owns a career .317 average. He’s a three-time batting champ and one of the toughest outs in baseball.
The downside? He’s limited defensively and hasn’t played second base full-time since 2023.
He also doesn’t offer much in terms of power. But if the Giants are looking for a high-contact bat to lengthen the lineup, Arraez could be a short-term solution - albeit one with positional caveats.
Internally, the Giants still have plenty of reason for optimism. Their farm system is as strong as it’s been in more than a decade, with four players on Baseball America’s preseason top 100 list - the most since 2010, when Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner were headlining the pipeline. Zack Wheeler and Thomas Neal made that list, too.
This year’s group is led by the towering Bryce Eldridge, ranked No. 18 overall. At 6-foot-7, the first baseman has drawn praise from Posey himself, who called him a potential “impact bat for the next 10 to 15 years.”
The Giants have made it clear they’re not moving Eldridge in any deal. But the belief inside the organization is that they have enough depth to pull off a significant trade without touching their crown jewel.
Beyond Eldridge, the Giants have a wave of prospects drawing league-wide attention. That includes Bresnahan, right-hander Keyner Martinez, shortstop Gavin Kilen, and outfielder Dakota Jordan - all of whom received votes for Baseball America’s top 100.
They also just landed the top international free agent, Venezuelan shortstop Luis Hernandez, with a $5 million signing bonus. And don’t overlook Parks Harber, the undrafted infielder acquired in the Camilo Doval trade to the Yankees.
Harber impressed in the Arizona Fall League and has generated some trade buzz of his own.
Still, outside of Harber, none of those players are expected to debut in the majors this season. And in trade talks, they just haven’t carried the kind of weight the Giants were hoping for.
So the Giants find themselves in a tough spot: a farm system brimming with talent, but a big-league roster that needs help now. The clock is ticking, and while the future looks promising, the present remains a bit unsettled.
With spring training looming, the Giants still have work to do - and not a lot of time to do it.