Ranking the top 3 priorities for the SF Giants 2025

In addition to finding a new manager, the SF Giants have several needs to check off this winter. What offseason priorities do they need to fill this offseason?

Ranking the top 3 priorities for the SF Giants 2025 - 2026 offseason

1. Adding at least one starting pitcher

Over the past few seasons, the Giants have struggled with rotation depth to finish out the year. This season was no different, as Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Justin Verlander anchored that unit.

Verlander was arguably the Giants' best starting pitcher in the second half, and Ray was not as effective as the season progressed. That was likely due to fatigue.

The Giants will want to avoid running low on reliable pitching depth. Webb and Ray are slated to anchor the front of the rotation. Landen Roupp threw well enough to be penciled into the start of next season's rotation.

Trevor McDonald had a strong finish to the year, and the Giants are hopeful that Hayden Birdsong can rebound from a down year. Plus, Blade Tidwell was impressive during his brief run with the Sacramento River Cats.

While McDonald, Birdsong, and Tidwell might be intriguing options, the Giants still need to solidify the middle of the rotation with reliable depth. There will be plenty of names available. Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez, and Zac Gallen will be some of the top names available.

The Giants have a core of players already locked up to long-term deals, so they might prefer to fill this with a pitcher on a shorter-term deal. They liked what Justin Verlander brought to the table, and have expressed interest in bringing him back. Verlander might fit that mold of a player who can be added on shorter-term deal. Merrill Kelly fits that description as well.

I am merely guessing that they will stay away from the top names on the market and try to find a good value on the market. There is also a good chance that the Giants simply need more than one rotation arm. Behind Ray, Webb, and Roupp, no one made a strong enough case for a rotation spot. In fairness to McDonald, he did throw well in a limited showing.

2. Rebuilding the bullpen

This might be the hardest area to address. Teams are not all that comfortable in investing in relievers because the year-to-year numbers can be volatile.

With Randy Rodríguez likely out for next season, nearly every bullpen role might be up for grabs. Joey Lucchesi and Matt Gage threw well enough to be retained for next season. Joel Peguero looked good in 22.1 frames with San Francisco. José Buttó had some nice moments with the Giants, but pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 21 appearances with the Giants.

Peguero has the premium velocity for a leverage role, but he only struck out 17 batters in 22.1 innings. He generally has not put up unusually high strikeout numbers in the upper minors either, which is typically what teams want in a potential leverage arm.

Outside of Peguero, it is hard to point at any other internal option and say confidently that he can be a leverage reliever. They do not have a true closer and are likely missing the relievers to pitch in the seventh and eighth innings.

That is a lot of holes to fill in one offseason. Bringing back Tyler Rogers makes a lot of sense, but he should have a healthy market in free agency. They have not had success in buying high-priced relievers in the past, and might be better off looking for a value-based addition.

3. Another starting outfielder

The Giants' outfield unit was solid, but not a strength. Jung Hoo Lee rebounded nicely after a mid-season slump, but his defensive struggles will likely force them to consider a move to right field. Heliot Ramos reached 20 home runs for a second straight season, but was among the worst defensive outfielders in baseball.

If Ramos continues to struggle in left field, a move to DH could be an option. The Giants have the DH spot locked up with Rafael Devers and likely, Bryce Eldridge for the foreseeable future. There might not be many DH at-bats for the Giants.

They tried a few different options in right field following the Mike Yastrzemski trade. Jerar Encarnación, Luis Matos, and Drew Gilbert all saw time there down the stretch, but none of the options ran with the opportunity.

They will likely need to consider external options, but the market is thin on depth. Kyle Tucker will be the top name on the market. Cody Bellinger has a player option that he will likely decline in favor of free agency. The good thing about Bellinger is that he cannot be issued a qualifying offer.

Bellinger could fill two needs for the Giants. He could slot into center field, thereby moving Lee to right field. This would be a better defensive alignment. Plus, Bellinger brings a solid combination of power and contact skills, but questions remain about how his bat would play at Oracle Park.

Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Conforto, and Cedric Mullins are some alternatives. Mullins is coming off a down year, but would bring an element of functional speed that the Giants do not currently have. The trade market could be an option to fill this need.

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