The first year of Buster Posey's front office tenure saw the Giants add a pair of stars. The end result was the same league average record that defined the Farhan Zaidi era. That spurred a bold change in the dugout. The Giants fired three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin while turning to the college ranks with a splash hire of former University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Rafael Devers, DH: $238.5MM through 2033
- Willy Adames, SS: $150MM through 2031
- Matt Chapman, 3B: $125MM through 2030
- Jung Hoo Lee, CF: $85MM through 2029 (can opt out after '27)
- Logan Webb, RHP: $70MM through 2028
- Robbie Ray, LHP: $25MM through 2026
Option Decisions
- Team holds $4MM option on C Tom Murphy ($250K buyout)
2026 guaranteed contracts: $132.75MM
Total future commitments: $693.75MM through 2033
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- JT Brubaker (5.162): $2.1MM
- Andrew Knizner (5.090): $1.3MM
- Joey Lucchesi (5.047): $2MM
- Ryan Walker (2.136): $2.5MM
- Patrick Bailey (2.136): $2.2MM
Non-tender candidates: Brubaker, Knizner, Lucchesi
Free Agents
After a few years of coming up empty on star pursuits, the Giants landed two impact hitters within the first nine months of Buster Posey's tenure atop baseball operations. They signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182MM free agent deal that represented the largest in franchise history. They made an even bigger commitment when they pulled off the Rafael Devers blockbuster in June. The Giants took on more than $240MM on Devers' contract over eight and a half seasons.
While the moves added much needed star talent to the San Francisco lineup, they didn't push the team to a playoff berth. On the heels of another .500 finish, they're now emphasizing a deeper pitching staff. "I think our focus is going to be on pitching, to try to fortify our starting staff. The same goes with the bullpen," Posey told Alex Pavlovic and Laura Britt of NBC Sports Bay Area. "I believe that pitching and defense wins, so that's where we'll probably start looking this offseason when free agency does happen."
That won't happen for another week or two, but the Giants didn't waste any time making significant changes. They fired manager Bob Melvin the day after the end of the regular season. A few weeks later, they zeroed in on Tony Vitello as their hire. There isn't any precedent for a top-tier college baseball coach jumping directly into MLB managing without any coaching or front office experience in pro ball.
There have been a few instances of teams poaching college pitching coaches. There are also examples of the "college to professional head coach" move in the NFL, NHL and NBA. Vitello will be the first test case in Major League Baseball. It remains to be seen how much of Melvin's staff will be retained. Bench coach Ryan Christenson and third base coach Matt Williams were out as soon as Melvin was dismissed.
The front office's focus now turns to the roster. They should have a good amount of payroll space with which to work. They have $132.75MM in guaranteed commitments for six highly-priced players. It's one of the game's lightest arbitration classes, though, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting the group for a little over $10MM. Non-tenders of JT Brubaker, Joey Lucchesi and Andrew Knizner would drop that below $5MM, as Patrick Bailey and Ryan Walker are their only two locks to be offered contracts.
That'd put their Opening Day payroll projection in the $150-155MM range if they filled the rest of the roster with minimum salaried players. RosterResource estimates their luxury tax number around $174MM, which is $70MM below the base threshold. The Giants ducked the luxury tax this year but had exceeded the threshold as recently as 2024. Even if they're not willing to go all the way to $244MM, they should be able to make multiple notable additions.
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They sure are talented on paper.
Ya, but need it on grass too.
Personally I think things are looking up.
Not that flying under the radar is an advantage, but I think they get to the playoffs in 26. Pitching additions will be key. Arrow up
Posey shocked MLB hiring Vitello. Now he can focus on giving Vitello quality SP-RP-offensive bats this offseason via FA and/or trades
If we’re greedy… A RH Starter, A LH Starter, A Closer.
On the other side… Power Bat OF, 2B, and Backup Catcher will do.
Go Buster !
This offseason is def time for Posey to get greedy & let LA Deferrals, Padres & Diamondbacks know there’s going to be a different Giants team in 2026
Posey’s already shown next year won’t be status quo – especially hiring Vitello
Get Greedy. I like it !
Is Greedy a free agent ?
I thought him and Cash Considerations signed a long term deal somewhere ?
Quality pickups in all those positions via FA would put them in the 290k payroll range
I hope they can get half that haul
To make any noise in the division they have to land a damn good #2/#3 (Peralta=Woodruff=Ryan) starter and add some experienced bullpen arms. They need to get a real leadoff hitter (more speed). and a 30/30 guy would be ideal. They need to improve their defense. They have some guys they could move in trades and they probably won’t spend lavishly in free agency so trades will have to be one of the ways they improve.
Would love to see a trade for Steven Kwan. Thinking a Davidson/McDonald/Velasquez/Matos package might be a fair price to pay. On the pitching side, I like Brandon Woodruff, Zac Gallen, Ryan Helsley, and Devin Williams on short term deals to help re establish their value.
No on Bo Davidson !
He’s a keeper.
That’s a joke of a trade right?
Gallen is a free agent>
It’s all a bit scary. Need multiple pitchers of all descriptions. The dynamic duo have so much work to do.
I’m optimistic about it.
A Dodger spanking always helps….
I really don’t think SFG is too far away from serious contention for years to come with a few tweaks here and there. I have faith in Buster really wanting that as well.
Always try to be optimistic but the pitching corps we finished with was threadbare. Of 13 starting roster pitchers, we have 5 ? Webb, Ray, Roupp, Walker and hopefully Miller ?
What about your boy Bevins ?
Beck is decent too. Other arms in the minors that can help in the pen too.
Yes we do need starters though, but free agent pitching isn’t usually a hard get because of the ballpark.
Arms will come, bats are tougher.
Oops sorry Spencer.
Of course. How can I forget my favourite ex con vibe! Bivens for sure. Probably Luchessi and Beck as well.
Probably too harsh but yeah, lots of work ahead on the pitching front.
Honestly they should trade Ramos if he even has any value left, dude is completely lost in the field. Find a cf’er, move lee to right, bring back rogers(and another top pen arm), scherzer is probably coming after the manager hire. Sign a decent 3, but give McDonald a chance at #5 to prove the end of the year wasn’t a fluke
Not to hip on Scherzer. Seems like another Verlander gamble. Agree on Rodgers. Miller might be closer material, so pen is not the worst problem. Gallen or Valdez would be nice. Ramos might still have some value with youth and hard hit rate. I think Bo Davidson takes his job pretty soon anyway. Agree on McDonald too. I’m really hoping the “fluke” was the post all star break collapse.
I have no problem with them trading Ramos, but finding a CFer is a lot easier said than done. There are good defenders out there, but very few are available that can defend and possess even a league average bat. And Lee’s bat is less than ideal for a corner position. IMO resources are better directed elsewhere.
I like what I saw with McDonald, but everyone seems to be forgetting Whisenhunt. He needs to progress further, but will be in the mix.
Unless Bryce Eldridge can transition into a solid RF (otherwise he’ll share 1B/DH with Devers), they’ll need to upgrade at RF and 2B.
I keep wanting Brandon Lowe to be a good candidate as a trade target, but I just can’t see him being a good fit at Oracle Park. Otherwise, Gleyber Torres is the default best free agent at second…..OR go big and make Bo Bichette a full-time second baseman.
Keep that Bo Bichette rumor going !
Would be a doubles machine at Oracle.
Gleyber Torres can hit, but he’s one of the worst defenders at 2B. -20 DRS, -29 OAA. Hard pass for me. My wish is they trade for Brendan Donovan for 2B. Over 4 seasons, he’s a well above average hitter, 119 wRC+, 117 OPS+, and about average fielder, -5 DRS, 3 OAA.
Baseball Reference lists JT Brubaker as being eligible for free agency this offseason.
Don’t see the Giants trading to get pitching. Tucker, Williams, Suarez and Verlander would make a good off-season.
I really do think Casey Schmitt will work as our 2B. His fielding is above average and he really has some power. His improvement at the plate from 2024 to 2025 was very noticeable. I think he gets the first shot for 2026. I honestly think he’ll have a good year. I really wish there was a way to keep Dom Smith. He’d sure be a good bench player, great as a late inning defensive player and good insurance in case Eldridge isn’t quite ready.