Projecting the new look SF Giants lineup after Luis Arraez signing

The SF Giants have reportedly signed Luis Arraez to be their second baseman, giving them the premier contact hitter in the game. While his defense is a major question mark at the position, he should definitely improve the lineup. Let’s take a look at what the lineup could look like with Arraez now in the fold.

Projected 2026 SF Giants starting lineup after the Luis Arrraez signing

1. RF Jung Hoo Lee

The Giants have to still be hoping Jung Hoo Lee will be their everyday leadoff man in 2026. He got bumped down in the order last season and eventually got back to being a leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching towards the end of 2025, but they need him to be that consistent presence at the top of the order and maybe his move to right field will take a little pressure off and allow him to focus more on hitting.

2. 2B Luis Arraez

The addition of Arraez can allow the Giants to have a somewhat old school lineup. Lee is a contact hitter with speed in the leadoff spot and Arraez is that contact-first second baseman who can put a ball in play and move a guy over if needed. It’s an imperfect analogy but it’s a bit like those Giants lineups back in 2014 that had Gregor Blanco batting leadoff with Joe Panik behind him.

Arraez certainly lengthens the lineup and his contact skills should benefit a team that seemingly struck out a ton in clutch situations last year. Good things happen when you put the ball in play and the Giants are banking on Arraez’s ability to do that. 

3. SS Willy Adames

Adames is a solid power threat to have in the 3-spot especially after he hit 30 homers last season. If Lee and Arraez can get on base at a solid rate then Adames is a good slugger to have to drive them in.

4. 1B Rafael Devers

The best power threat on the team is Rafael Devers. He has a lot of swing and miss in his approach but man when he makes contact is it loud. He’s a perfect guy to have as a cleanup hitter.

5. 3B Matt Chapman

Chapman being your cleanup hitter is not necessarily a bad thing. He can certainly be a legitimate cleanup hitter, but in a good lineup he would bat fifth or sixth. The Arraez signing allows the Giants to push him down a bit but he still completes a pretty formidable 3-4-5 part of the lineup which, perhaps not coincidentally, is comprised of three of the team’s priciest players.

6. LF Heliot Ramos

It would not be a surprise to see Heliot Ramos bat leadoff against left-handed pitching since he mashes lefties, but his power makes him a strong option anywhere in the lineup. Maybe in some dream scenario Adames, Devers, Chapman, and Ramos can all hit 20 or more homers in 2026.

7. DH Bryce Eldridge

Eldridge is not a guarantee to make the roster out of spring training and part of me would not be surprised if Arraez ends up spending a lot of time at DH if his glove proves to be a nightmare at second base. Still, if Eldridge has a hot spring it will be hard to keep him off the roster.

8. CF Harrison Bader

Bader is coming off a career-best year at the plate so having him as your No. 8 hitter is a pretty good sign. Obviously, his defense is the biggest value he brings to the table but if he can be just league-average as a hitter then the Giants will be happy.

9. C Patrick Bailey

Just keep winning Gold Gloves and hitting inside-the-park walk-off home runs and everything will be just fine, Patrick.

All in all, that’s not a bad lineup entering 2026. Perhaps the offense will be the driving force of the 2026 Giants rather than pitching and defense which is odd given Buster Posey’s emphasis on being a pitching and defense team, but this lineup looks like it could definitely be above average if everyone stays relatively healthy.