After multiple big-time moves in his debut season as the president of baseball operations, Buster Posey’s second offseason leading the San Francisco Giants’ front office lacks an addition of similar caliber. Despite no centerpiece move, there are many new faces with the team, ready to leave their marks on the storied history of the Giants.

Last offseason, the Giants signed shortstop Willy Adames to a franchise record deal of a seven-year, $182 million contract. The team would follow that up with the blockbuster midseason trade for star slugger Rafael Devers, taking on the remaining eight years and total sum of his 10-year $313.5 million extension originally given by the Boston Red Sox. This offseason told a different story as the Giants took a quieter approach, adding a mix of veterans, depth pieces and a revamped coaching staff, who could help shape the team’s 2026 season.

A New Skipper

Tony Vitello: After coming short of a playoff berth in each of Bob Melvin’s two seasons as manager, the Giants made history by making Vitello the first college baseball manager to transition directly into a managerial role in the MLB. Under Vitello’s guidance, the University of Tennessee Volunteers became an elite baseball program, compiling a record of 341-131 and appearing in three College World Series, winning the championship in 2024. The energy that Vitello displayed as head coach at Tennessee is unlike anything shown by other MLB managers, so it will be interesting to see how his approach to interacting with big league players differs from college players. To ease Vitello’s transition to the major leagues, coaches with managerial experience, such as Jayce Tingler and Ron Washington, have been added to the coaching staff. 

Free Agent Acquisitions

Adrian Houser delivers a pitch in the New York Mets’ game versus the Washington Nationals on March 15, 2024. (Photo courtesy of D. Benjamin Miller / Wikimedia Commons)

SP Adrian Houser: 2025 was a tale of two teams for Houser. After putting up an impressive 2.10 ERA in 68.2 innings with the Chicago White Sox, the starting pitcher was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, where his production dropped off to the tune of a 4.79 ERA in 56.1 innings. The Giants hope Houser will resemble who he was on the White Sox rather than the Rays. Even if his production falls somewhere in between the two, the 33-year-old would be providing good value for a two-year, $22 million contract. A pitcher-friendly home field and reworked mechanics should allow him to anchor the backend of the Giants’ rotation.

SP Tyler Mahle: For Mahle, the key to a successful 2026 season comes from his ability to stay healthy. After undergoing Tommy John surgery to reconstruct his UCL in 2023, Mahle has only been able to provide his teams with a total of 125 innings pitched over the last three seasons. When he was available to throw, Mahle shone in 2025. In 86.2 innings with the Texas Rangers, the Newport Beach native posted a 2.18 ERA. The Giants added the 30 year old to the team on a low-risk, high-reward deal at one-year, $10 million. If the Giants could get Mahle to throw his last three years’ worth of innings this season with an ERA below 4.00, it would be a huge win.

OF Harrison Bader: One aspect of the 2025 Giants that proved to be a glaring weakness was the defensive play in the outfield. To address this, the front office agreed to a two-year $20.5 million contract with 31-year-old Gold Glove-winning centerfielder Harrison Bader. 2025 proved to be one of the best career offensive seasons for the defense specialist. Bader set career-best marks in 2025 with a .277 batting average, a .347 on-base percentage, 54 runs batted in and 17 total home runs in his time split between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. While he doesn’t need to match last season’s offensive breakout, the Giants need Bader to provide at least league-average offensive value while maintaining the high level of defense he has come to be known for. With the new signee set to patrol center field at Oracle Park, incumbent Jung-Hoo Lee will shift over to right field, where he is a better fit. 

Luis Arráez sizes up a pop fly while playing for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the High-A affiliate for the Minnesota Twins, on May 3, 2016. (Photo courtesy of Joel Dinda / Wikimedia Commons)

IF Luis Arráez: After unsuccessful attempts to upgrade at second base by way of trade, the Giants managed to land a 28-year-old three-time batting title champion in Luis Arráez on a one-year, $12 million prove-it deal. Year in and year out, Arráez has consistently been towards the top of the league leaderboards in hits. Despite this, some hitting metrics such as OPS+ grade Arráez’s offensive value as closer to league-average rather than a star hitter. In his time with the Padres, Arráez was moved to first base due to defensive shortcomings at second. The good news for Giants fans is that the newly-signed infield guru Ron Washington has been working closely with Arráez to turn him into a serviceable defender. Arráez is not going to be popping many balls into McCovey Cove this season and won’t be stealing many bases, but there is a ton of space in the Oracle Park outfield to drop plenty of hits.

Under the Radar Additions

C Daniel Susac: Younger brother of former Giants backup catcher Andrew Susac, Daniel Susac now finds himself in a position to earn the same job once held by his brother. Daniel Susac, a former first-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2022, became eligible for the Rule 5 draft this offseason after being in the A’s minor league system for four years without being added to the 40-man roster. After being selected by the Minnesota Twins in the draft, Daniel Susac was instantly traded to the Giants for a prospect and cash. His Rule 5 status requires the Giants to keep him on the big league roster all season, or his contract rights will be returned to the A’s. This gave him an advantage over other potential backup catchers, but a strong spring has solidified his case to make the opening day roster. 

Will Brennan stands on deck as the Cleveland Guardians take on the Los Angeles Angels on May 14, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons)

OF Will Brennan: Former Cleveland Guardians outfielder Will Brennan spent most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Giants took a chance on Brennan, hoping that he could provide reliable defense off the bench. As a left-handed hitter, Brennan looks to add some versatility to a bench that projects to be heavily right-handed. Due to Brennan still having a minor league

option, he may start the year in Triple-A. With other lefty options such as Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray sent to the minors, it appears Brennan is above others on the depth chart.

OF Jared Oliva: The Giants signed 30-year-old speedster Jared Oliva to a minor league contract this offseason. Oliva was a non-roster invitee for the Giants this spring and impressed the team. He batted for a .375 average with one home run while leading the Cactus League in stolen bases with 14. The Giants have hardly taken advantage of the 2023 rule changes, including expanded base sizes and the limited number of pitcher pick-off attempts per at-bat. Their only player to crack the 20 stolen base threshold in that time has been former second baseman Thairo Estrada. Oliva stole 57 bases last year in the minor leagues and has a serious shot to show off the wheels for the Giants this season.

Potential Call Ups

1B/DH Bryce Eldridge: The undisputed number one prospect in the Giants’ minor league system, Eldridge came into this year’s spring training with hopes of making his first big league opening day roster. After a hot start, strikeouts started to pile up for the towering first baseman; 19 strikeouts in 40 at-bats left the Giants feeling that a little more seasoning at Triple-A would be a good thing for the 6-foot-7-inch 21 year old. The move opens up a spot for the powerful Jerar Encarnación to make the team as the primary designated hitter. Giants fans should not fret over the decision too much as Eldridge is almost sure to be called up at some point this season, barring injury. While he was very close to making this roster, the Giants do not want to repeat mistakes from the past. Former No. 1 San Francisco prospect Marco Luciano was released by the team this offseason after his development was hurt by constant call-ups and demotions. When Eldridge comes up, they’ll want him to stay up.

SP Trevor McDonald: While the five rotation spots are all but penciled in to start the year, almost no MLB team makes it through an entire season without having to fill in some gaps when it comes to starting pitching. Whether due to injury or poor performance, pitching depth is a necessity for teams that hope to remain com

Jared Oliva warms up with his teammates on the West Virginia Black Bears, a former minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on August 23, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Hyde / Wikimedia Commons)

petitive. With Hayden Birdsong requiring season-ending surgery to repair his UCL, Trevor McDonald looks to be the first in line should the Giants’ pitching staff need any reinforcements. During a limited time in the major leagues last season, McDonald flashed impressive stuff, holding the Dodgers to one run through 6 innings in one of his two starts. That kind of performance will always build goodwill with the Giants’ fan base.

UTIL Jesus Rodriguez: A failure to consistently win ballgames in the first half of the 2025 season led the Giants to trade away some players leading up to the trade deadline, including Camilo Doval. One of the main pieces they got in return was catcher Jesus Rodriguez from the Yankees. While not possessing much in terms of home run ability, what Rodriguez does have is a knack for hitting at a high average. In six minor league seasons, he has put up a batting average of .309 while keeping his strikeout numbers low. Though he is primarily a catcher, Rodriguez can fill any position besides shortstop and pitcher. This type of versatility is rare and adds to the likelihood that he could play a role at the MLB level at some point this season.

There is much to be excited about for the Giants this season. Melvin had the experience, but Vitello has the energy that this team desperately needs after slogging through another middling season despite their new stars. Those stars have now had a full offseason to mesh and are looking to end a playoff drought that has lasted since the Giants’ miracle 107-win regular season in 2021.

Look for the front office to add relief pitchers through trades throughout the season to strengthen a questionable bullpen. When it’s all said and done, they may not be ready to knock off the Dodgers as division champs, but there is no reason this team shouldn’t be in a playoff spot come October. This fanbase knows better than most that once you’re playing postseason baseball, anything can happen.