Mediocrity, your name is the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants have posted a .500 record within four games in five of the six years since 2020, with the lone exception being their improbable 107-win season in 2021. Two of those years, 2022 and 2025, ended with the Giants finishing the year with an 81-81 record.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey isn’t content with being mediocre. He has set the bar high in rebuilding the roster, signing shortstop Willy Adames, trading for dedicated hitter Rafael Devers and playing a crucial role in extending third baseman Matt Chapman. In addition to building a sustainable competitor, Posey wants to get back to the glory days of 2010 through 2014, when the Giants won three World Series titles. Considering the Giants are in the same division as the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres, he has his work cut out for him.
The Giants want to break their cycle of mediocrity. Let’s take a look at three questions facing the organization ahead of the offseason.
Three questions facing the San Francisco Giants this offseason
1. Are the Giants making the right move as a manager?
The Giants’ moves were made with present and future contention in mind. However, the same cannot be said for the manager. The Giants surprisingly fired manager Bob Melvin after just two seasons, and months after picking up his team option for 2026. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports this that Posey is looking for a younger option on the bench. That could lead to an unexpected hiring, as the Giants are reportedly finalizing a deal with University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello.
Vitello would be a huge gamble for Posey, one that could make or break his tenure. The 47-year-old has never played or coached professional football at any level and is believed to be the first manager hired directly from the collegiate side. While Vitello has found success throughout his career, there is no guarantee it will continue in San Francisco. The way the Giants want to compete now, Vitello wouldn’t have the luxury of taking on the role of manager.
2. Is this the year the left field carousel ends?
Another opening day, another starting left fielder in San Francisco. The Giants haven’t started the same left fielder on Opening Day in consecutive years since Barry Bonds in 2007. Heliot Ramos earned the honor in 2025, the 18th different opening day left fielder since Bonds’ senior year.
Although Ramos couldn’t repeat his 2024 All-Star performance, he was a regular part of the Giants’ lineup. He posted a .256/.328/.400 batting line with 21 home runs and 24 doubles over 695 plate appearances. The problem is that Ramos was mediocre defensively, costing the Giants four points on the left side. Ideally, he would fill in as the Giants’ designated hitter, but with Devers and first base prospect Bryce Eldridge set to stay in the Majors, Ramos could be forced into the outfield again.
3. Will there be another big splash for the Giants?
Posey has been active while looking to upgrade the Giants roster. Adames and Devers, combined with the emergence of Casey Schmitt, should ensure the field is ready for the foreseeable future. The same cannot be said for the outfield, where Jung Hoo Lee is the only guaranteed starter, or for the pitching staff.
Several options in free agency could have an immediate impact. Outfielders Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber would add another impact bat to the lineup. The likes of Dylan Cease or Framber Valdez would fit nicely behind Robbie Ray and Logan Webb. However, they are likely to be expensive in free agency. The Giants have spent money to improve the roster, but how much money will ownership be willing to spend? The Giants will have to spend money to compete with the Dodgers, but there may not be much room in the budget.
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