Tony Vitello's favorite spark plug may be in trouble after latest SF Giants signing

The SF Giants made a move on Sunday, signing outfielder Will Brennan to a major league contract. The move could have ramifications for the entire outfield depth chart, including new manager Tony Vitello's favorite spark plug Drew Gilbert.

According to San Francisco Standard reporter John Shea, this signing was not made because of an injury to Jung Hoo Lee or Drew Gilbert, instead it was meant to add more overall depth to the outfield group.

SF Giants outfield depth gets a boost with Will Brennan signing

Brennan is a left-handed outfielder who has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Guardians. He's never put up phenomenal numbers, but in 2023 he slashed .266/.299/.356 with five home runs and 41 runs batted in across 138 games and followed that up in 2024 by slashing .264/.309/.388 with eight homers and 30 runs driven in.

2025 was more of a struggle as he played in just six games with the Guardians after beginning the year in Triple-A. A pair of surgeries, one to repair his UCL and another to fix his groin, limited him. The Guardians decided to non-tender him following the season.

San Francisco's decision to sign him to a major league contract is interesting. It would be one thing if they signed him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training where he could earn a spot on the team, but this shows the Giants like him enough to give him a major league deal.

Gilbert seemed like he would have a pretty decent chance to make the team after he showed promise and brought his unique brand of energy to the team after getting called up last season. Plus, after Vitello was hired it seemed only natural that Gilbert would make the team given he played under Vitello at the University of Tennessee.

Not only that, but Gilbert showed last season he is a plus defender. He can play all three outfield positions and would be a perfect late-game defensive replacement for Heliot Ramos in left field.

The energetic young player could still make the team, but it is clear that he is going to have some more competition now. He already had some competitors for a bench spot with both Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnacion out of minor league options and in need of a hot spring to make the team.

Matos and Encarnacion now have a particularly steep uphill climb to make the Opening Day roster. They will have to beat out Gilbert and hope the Giants choose to carry two outfielders which is not a given.

We will see how the roster ultimately shakes out, but Gilbert seems to be hurt the most by this move and Matos and Encarnacion are also in trouble.