SF Giants add former Pirates outfielder on a minor league deal

The SF Giants bolstered outfield depth earlier this week. They have added former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jared Oliva on a minor league pact, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants add former Pirates outfielder on a minor league deal

This move came around the same time the Giants lost Justin Dean on waivers to the Chicago Cubs. In a lot of ways, Oliva has a profile similar to Dean in that his strengths are speed and outfield defense.

Presumably, Oliva's deal will include a camp invite. If so, he will compete with Jerar Encarnación, Luis Matos, Drew Gilbert, and Grant McCray for playing time. Those players have an inside edge, given that they are currently on the 40-man roster. Both Encarnación and Matos will be out of options this spring.

We have covered this a lot, but it is a bit bizarre with how the Giants are approaching right field. That position is a clear need, but they have not done anything to upgrade it this offseason. There is still time for that to change, but spring training begins next month.

Perhaps the Giants are content with letting the current group compete for playing time. That said, this group might be one of the weakest spots in the lineup, and the offense already has to deal with below-average production at catcher. It is a major risk to now have two potentially extreme soft spots in the lineup.

Again, there is still plenty of time for this to change. With each passing day, it feels less and less likely that the Giants will do anything to upgrade that part of the lineup.

Jared Oliva was originally a seventh-round pick in the 2017 draft by the Pirates out of the University of Arizona. Across eight minor league seasons, he has slashed .268/.343/.412 with an 8.3 percent walk rate, 21.2 percent strikeout rate, and .144 ISO. This includes a quality 2025 campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, where he posted a .748 OPS in 398 Triple-A plate appearances.

The right-handed bat has appeared in parts of two seasons with the Pirates, but he has struggled to a .435 OPS in 59 sporadic at-bats.

Oliva is an elite runner and knows how to use it on the bases. He has swiped 225 bags in 269 chances during his minor league career. While the offensive upside is limited, he has generally done well against left-handed pitching in the minors. That was an area where the Giants struggled badly last year.

In the outfield, Oliva is a capable defender at all three outfield positions. The Giants have a need for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and Oliva fits that profile. This is not to say he has a chance to make the roster, but some of his skills fit what the Giants need.