Area of the SF Giants roster where they will likely be a lot of turnover this offseason

On Thursday, the SF Giants added speedy outfielder Justin Dean in a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers. That gives them nine outfielders on the 40-man roster, which is likely an area of turnover this winter.

Area of the SF Giants roster where they will likely be a lot of turnover this offseason

Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos are among those nine outfielders. Currently, they are penciled into next year’s lineup. They are safe.

The Giants will also need to add a starting-caliber outfielder this offseason. That will push the rest of the group one peg lower on the depth chart.

That leaves seven other outfielders who could be vying for a role next spring. It bears mentioning that very few from this group has positioned themselves for a role in 2026.

Drew Gilbert displayed quality defense in his brief showing with the Giants. He also struggled to a .598 OPS in 109 plate appearances, so his bat leaves something to be desired.

Grant McCray is a capable defender, even if that has not fully shown during his time in the majors. Similar to Gilbert, he has struggled offensively, but both have the defensive ability to be a reliable fourth outfielder.

That leaves a bevy of options seemingly out of the picture. Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and Jerar Encarnación are out of options. Wade Meckler has used up three options, but should be eligible for a fourth option year based on service time.

The Giants like Meckler’s bat and have looked at creative ways to expand his versatility. However, he has not appeared with the club since 2023.

Luciano, Matos, and Encarnación are likely the most vulnerable. They are all bat-first outfielders, but have not hit enough to justify more playing time.

Of course, the Giants have now added Justin Dean to the mix. He is an optionable outfielder with limited offensive upside. However, he has more functional speed than just about every other player on the 40-man roster.

Stealing bases in the minors is different than in the majors, but Dean swiped 27 bags in 36 chances in Triple-A this season. He is also one year removed from stealing 61 bases across two minor league levels.

This area of the Giants roster will look a bit different by the time spring training comes. Every addition the Giants make this offseason could lead to a corresponding deletion from the outfield group.