Will the SF Giants look to make an upgrade at second base this offseason?

Young SF Giants infielder Casey Schmitt took over at second base midway through the season. He put up respectable numbers, but will the Giants look to make an upgrade this offseason?

Will the SF Giants look to make an upgrade at second base this offseason?

The Giants began the season with Tyler Fitzgerald penciled in as the everyday second baseman. He was coming off a breakout year in 2024, and the Giants were not keen on making an upgrade.

In hindsight, they probably should have added another veteran infielder to give them a little extra depth in case of injuries or underperformance with Fitzgerald. 

It was a combination of injuries and underperformance that created an opening for Casey Schmitt. Matt Chapman battled inflammation in his right hand that put him on the shelf for a month.

This inserted Schmitt into the lineup. He immediately made an impact, but his stay at third base was only temporary. When Chapman was nearing a return, Schmitt began taking reps at second base again, as a way to keep him in the lineup.

Fitzgerald was unable to replicate his 2024 numbers. Overall, he struggled to a .606 OPS with four home runs and 14 RBI in 243 plate appearances before finishing the year in Triple-A.

On the other hand, Schmitt hit .243/.305/.401 (98 wRC+) with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and 34 runs while putting up 0.7 fWAR in 348 plate appearances. The overall value is on the lower side. However, he could be a reliable bat while hitting lower in the lineup.

Schmitt displayed the ability to hit 15 or more home runs with ease, but he will need to reach base at a higher rate to solidify his hold on an everyday role.

The 26-year-old infielder is still relatively new to second base, and the defensive metrics grade him as a below-average defender at the position. That said, he has a strong arm and the Giants are confident he can stick at the position. Perhaps, an offseason of regular reps at second base will only help.

So, do the Giants look for an upgrade? Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers will be the top option on the market, but he will be looking for a multi-year deal, and the Giants already have the rest of the infield locked up to long-term deals. Adding another multi-year deal would put them in a relatively inflexible position with that unit. 

There is a pretty steep drop-off in quality after Torres. Willi Castro, Dylan Moore, Amed Rosario, and Adam Frazier would all be fine additions in a utility role, but Castro might be the only starting-caliber infielder among that group. He could help out the Giants in a lot of ways, but that is true for the rest of the league.

The Giants could look to make an upgrade, but they already have a solid internal option. More than likely, Casey Schmitt is the Opening Day second baseman, and he made a solid case for that.