5 players who've proved they're long-term keepers in otherwise lost Giants season

Pretty much ever since the trade deadline in early August, the SF Giants have been in audition mode. Rafael Devers, Jung Hoo Lee, Logan Webb, and Bryce Eldridge are the three guys who will almost certainly be back next season barring a surprise trade, but everyone else has been vying for a spot on the 2027 team.

There are still a few more weeks of baseball left to play, but these five players have already done enough to prove that they have a good shot to be part of the Giants going forward.

5 SF Giants who could have a spot on 2027 team and beyond

Christian Koss

The injuries in the infield have given Christian Koss a lot of opportunities as of late. While he was pretty cold at the plate for most of August, he’s started to heat up a bit.

His last seven games he has hit .304/.360/.696 with three home runs and four runs batted in. Those aren’t quite Rafael Devers numbers, but they aren’t bad and the fact that he’s played serviceably at shortstop will help his chances of making the team next year.

There’s a chance that Marcelo Mayer beats him out for a spot on the bench, but it could be an interesting battle between the two. No matter what, Koss seems like a guy who will stick around as a utility guy even if he goes back and forth between San Francisco and Sacramento a bit.

Dylan Smith

Probably the best story in the bullpen this season has been Dylan Smith. He hasn’t been perfect and the way manager Tony Vitello has used him recently is a little bit concerning, but odds are he will be in next year’s bullpen.

He’s only 25 and the fact that he still has minor league options means he will likely be in San Francisco’s organization for a few years. They can’t make the mistake they did with Ryan Walker by giving him too many chances, but if Smith continues to be solid then he could stick around for a while.

Turner Hill

Even though Turner Hill has cooled off a little, he has still really impressed recently. His contact approach coupled with his speed and solid defense make him an intriguing platoon option in the outfield next year.

Maybe he will never be an everyday starter but even as a fourth or fifth outfielder he could provide some value going forward.

Jonah Cox

Another outfielder who has likely earned platoon duties for next season is Jonah Cox. His speed and defense make him a great asset already and his bat has come around as the season has gone on. The Giants haven’t had many fast guys like him as of late so expect him to be around with the Giants for a while.

Drew Gilbert

Similar to Hill and Cox, Drew Gilbert has also done enough to fit into that fourth outfielder, platoon prototype. He’s done more with the bat, especially against righties, and isn’t as solid defensively as Cox but the two of them forming a platoon in center next year would make a ton of sense.

There’s time for things to change, either with new names looking like a future part of the team or some of these guys falling off but as of right now it wouldn’t be shocking if these five players remained with the organization and were decent contributors the next few years.

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