The Giants’ pitching rotation is potentially set now that free-agent additions Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle have joined Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp on the starting staff.
But there’s still plenty of unfinished business for the Giants, who have room to improve before they report to Scottsdale, Ariz., for the start of Spring Training next month.
“We're just going to keep looking and trying to be opportunistic,” general manager Zack Minasian said last week. “There are still a lot of players out there -- free agents, potential trades. You don't really know where it's going to go because it takes two teams or two parties to get a deal done, but we’re certainly just exploring everything we can and continuing to be open-minded and see what happens.”
Here are three positions the Giants could look to upgrade in the coming weeks:
1. Outfield
The Giants appeared to shore up their lackluster outfield defense by claiming Joey Wiemer and Justin Dean off waivers at the beginning of the offseason. But their tenures with the organization proved short-lived, as they were designated for assignment to clear spots for Houser and Mahle on the 40-man roster.
San Francisco also DFA’d longtime prospects Marco Luciano and Wade Meckler, leaving Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee, Luis Matos, Drew Gilbert, Jerar Encarnacion and Grant McCray on the outfield depth chart.
Ramos and Lee are expected to fill two of the starting spots in the outfield, but the third remains wide open. The Giants could platoon the left-handed-hitting Gilbert with a right-handed bat like Matos or Encarnacion, but it would make sense for them to pursue an everyday option that could bring more upside with both the glove and the bat.
Kyle Tucker feels like a long shot given the Giants’ curious austerity this winter, but two other free agents -- Cody Bellinger and Harrison Bader -- could be good fits for what they need.
2. Second base
With third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames and first baseman Rafael Devers signed through the end of the decade, San Francisco’s infield will mostly be locked into place for the foreseeable future. But second base isn’t entirely spoken for, especially now that projected starter Casey Schmitt is recovering from offseason left wrist surgery.
If they Giants would prefer to go with a more established player at that spot, they could target trade candidates like the Cardinals’ Brendan Donavan or the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner, who could be expendable now that star third baseman Alex Bregman has reportedly agreed to a five-year, $175 million deal with the North Siders.
3. Bullpen
The Giants have brought three newcomers into their relief mix by claiming left-hander Reiver Sanmartin off waivers from the Reds and signing lefty Sam Hentges (one year, $1.4 million) and former Tigers closer Jason Foley (one year, $2 million). Hentges and Foley are both coming off shoulder surgeries, with the latter expected to be out until midseason.
The Giants also will be without All-Star right-hander Randy Rodríguez (Tommy John surgery) for most, if not all, of 2026, so they could certainly use at least one more high-leverage arm to pair with Ryan Walker at the back end of the bullpen.
Most of the top free-agent options are off the board now, though experienced options like Seranthony Domínguez, Michael Kopech and Andrew Chafin remain available. Another alternative would be to try to get creative with trades or savvy Minor League signings. There will be at least one familiar face on San Francisco’s list of non-roster invitees this spring, as the club reunited with hard-throwing right-hander Gregory Santos on a Minor League deal in December.