The SF Giants need a major roster overhaul for 2025

The SF Giants are slumping to another disappointing finish to the season. If they expect different results next year, they will need to make a drastic overhaul to the roster this winter.

The SF Giants need a major roster overhaul for 2025

It is just not working with this group and it is time to move on. That may be easier said than done. The Giants only have a few players reaching free agency including Blake Snell, Michael Conforto, and Mark Canha. Of the three, Snell is the only one that makes sense to bring back.

On the other hand, they have several players who are arbitration-eligible this winter. This includes Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval. There is a case to be made to bring back each player, but that will not inspire much confidence.

Where do the Giants even start at this point? The pitching, lineup, and defense have all slumped throughout this season. Perhaps, the one area where there has been a modest improvement is on the bases. The Giants have swiped 66 bases this season compared to 57 steals last year.

Upgrading the rotation might be difficult given that they have commitments to Logan Webb, Jordan Hicks, and Robbie Ray. Plus, Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong look like they will be rotation cogs next year.

The Giants could look to make at least one upgrade to the rotation (Hello, Blake Snell). This would move someone like Hicks back to the bullpen. However, much of that group will look similar next season.

The Giants should like to augment the bullpen. Though, investing heavily through free agency is often not the answer. They still should look to add at least one left-handed reliever as that was a need pretty much all season while looking around the margins for bullpen help. Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers find success all the time in that area.

The lineup is where they can make the most changes. Really, they need to identify who they can realistically build around. Both Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee are part of that mix. Patrick Bailey is arguably the best defensive player in baseball at a premium position, so he is likely part of that mix.

Outside of those three, the Giants need to upgrade the rest of the roster. It bears mentioning that both Heliot Ramos and Tyler Fitzgerald have been some of the more pleasant surprises this season. No one expected Ramos to make the All-Star team or reach 20 home runs, whereas Fitzgerald's has been one of the bigger surprises for a Giants prospect in recent memory.

That said, Ramos has struggled to a .669 OPS in 219 plate appearances in the second half of the year and Fitzgerald has not hit a home run in over a month. Can the young hitters readjust to the league adjusting to them? That is a question they will need to answer.

Both have performed well enough to be included in next year's plans. That brings the total up to five position players. Wilmer Flores has a $3.5 million player option for 2025 that he will likely exercise and Tom Murphy is also under contract through next season.

The Giants could decide to cut ties with Flores and look for an upgrade in free agency, but he is one year removed from posting an .863 OPS with 23 home runs and 60 RBI. I have a feeling that they will bet on that. At the very least, he will be owed money next season.

That brings the total up to seven position players. If they carry 13 on the roster at any one point, the Giants have six spots to fill with potential openings at first base, one middle infield spot, one corner outfield spot, and DH.

They really need to look to upgrade the roster in a meaningful way with a Willy Adames, Ha-Seong Kim, Teoscar Hernández, or Anthony Santander. Even a reunion with Joc Pederson could make sense and the Giants left that door open last winter.

One thing is for certain. The Giants need a much different look and identity next season because this is just not working. Changes are needed on the roster and that may not be the only changes this offseason.