Buster Posey has officially closed the door on any more offseason shopping sprees, and now he’s all in on fostering competition within the Giants’ camp. But here’s where it gets intriguing: is the team’s current roster enough to carry them through a grueling season? Let’s dive in.
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Reporting from SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Posey isn’t frantically chasing after new additions to the Giants’ lineup. Instead, he’s doubling down on maximizing the potential of the players already under the team’s roof. In his own words, the president of baseball operations is content with the squad he’s assembled.
‘We’re more in a listening mode than anything else,’ Posey explained. ‘I’m not sure how aggressive we’ll be in pursuing deals at this point. We’ll weigh our options, but we’re confident in the roster we have. There’s a lot of optimism for this group.’
Depth, however, could be a sticking point—particularly in the rotation and bullpen. Yet, Posey is banking on his young starters to rise to the occasion and his relievers to step into various roles seamlessly. It’s a tall order, especially given the demands of a long season, but Posey remains steadfast in his trust in the team’s talent.
During the offseason, Posey secured two starters, Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, to join the ranks alongside Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp. Beyond them, a crop of young pitchers—Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell, Trevor McDonald, and Carson Seymour—are vying to make their mark.
Meanwhile, notable free agents like Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Chris Bassitt remain unsigned. And let’s not forget Max Scherzer, a close friend of new Giants manager Tony Vitello, who’s still on the market.
The bullpen, though, is where the real uncertainty lies. Posey brought in relievers Sam Hentges and Jason Foley, but both will start the season on the injured list. Ryan Walker stands as the lone closer candidate, with other roles still up for grabs. And this is the part most people miss: the bullpen’s instability could be the team’s Achilles’ heel.
‘There’s a lot of opportunity here,’ Posey noted. ‘It’s exciting to see who’s going to step up and seize it.’
Without Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers, both traded last summer, and Randy Rodríguez recovering from Tommy John surgery, the Giants are leaning on their next tier of late-game relievers. Lefty Erik Miller is back in action, and Joel Peguero is in the running for a setup role.
Other relievers in the mix include José Buttó, Spencer Bivens, Tristan Beck, Keaton Winn, JT Brubaker, Gregory Santos, and lefties Matt Gage and Reiver Sanmartin. It’s a far cry from Posey’s championship-winning teams of 2010, 2012, and 2014, where bullpen roles were rarely in question. That dynamic shifted in 2016 when the bullpen’s collapse cost the Giants another shot at glory.
‘It was a rarity,’ Posey reflected. ‘You won’t often see bullpens where roles remain consistent for that long. While routine is beneficial, we need these pitchers to be adaptable. Roles might shift from week to week based on health or usage, so flexibility is key.’
On the position player front, the biggest question mark is what to do with top prospect Bryce Eldridge. The 6-foot-7 slugger won’t be taking over first base full-time—that’s Rafael Devers’ domain. Instead, Eldridge could serve as the designated hitter or get more seasoning in Triple-A.
Here’s a controversial take: could Eldridge’s development be better served in the minors, even if it means delaying his MLB debut? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Based on Posey’s comments, it wouldn’t be surprising if the 21-year-old starts the season with the Sacramento River Cats. ‘It’s crucial for him to understand that he’s still early in his career,’ Posey said. ‘We all hope he’ll be the offensive powerhouse one day, but that’s not the expectation right now. We’re hoping, but the focus is on his overall development.’
On Wednesday, Eldridge was spotted shagging fly balls in left field during batting practice. Vitello advised him to work on tracking the ball in both left and right field—just in case. Eldridge’s mother is even shipping him his outfielder’s glove, which is adorably supportive. He borrowed a glove from a teammate and got tips from Drew Gilbert, though his last outfield experiment didn’t go smoothly.
‘I was basically just running around,’ Eldridge admitted. ‘Gilbert told me to take it seriously, reset after each play. I was treating it more like a cardio workout.’
Eldridge’s defense won’t land him a full-time MLB job—his bat is the real draw. But Posey is hopeful that all aspects of his game will come together. ‘It’s about overall growth,’ Posey emphasized. ‘Defense, baserunning, offense—we’re looking for progress in every area.’
Posey has fortified the lineup by signing center fielder Harrison Bader and second baseman Luis Arráez. The infield is stacked with stars like Devers, Arráez, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, while Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee will join Bader in the outfield. Gold Glover Patrick Bailey will handle catching duties.
The Arráez signing shouldn’t have come as a surprise, given Posey’s emphasis on contact hitting. In 2025, Arráez led the majors with a 95.9% contact rate, though his advanced metrics and defense haven’t impressed modern front offices. Posey, however, isn’t buying into that narrative. Arráez, a three-time batting champ who hit .292 last season, is already working with infield guru Ron Washington to improve his glove.
‘I’m a firm believer in being aggressive, and you can’t do that if you’re not putting the ball in play,’ Posey argued. ‘Contact hitters balance out our lineup. I’m not saying a lineup should be built solely on contact, but from my playing days, the best teams in the playoffs were the ones forcing defenses to make plays, not striking out 15 times a game.’
If Eldridge starts in Triple-A, the DH role could go to Arráez, though he chose the Giants specifically for the second base job. With Arráez on board, Casey Schmitt is expected to join Christian Koss in a utility role, with Tyler Fitzgerald also in the mix.
Outfield depth includes Jerar Encarnación and Luis Matos, both out of options, along with Grant McCray and Gilbert. Catcher Daniel Susac is the top candidate to back up Bailey.
Posey could still make a trade or add another pitcher—the Giants checked in with Justin Verlander early in the offseason before he signed with Detroit—but the focus remains on the players already in camp. ‘We’re happy with the group we have,’ Posey reiterated.
The past meets the present as Posey’s administration once again invites former Giants players to spring training as guest instructors. Here’s the lineup:
• Dave Righetti: Feb. 11-28
• Yusmeiro Petit: Feb. 11-16
• Joe Panik: Feb. 15-20
• Gregor Blanco: Feb. 16-19
• Chili Davis: Feb. 17-25
• Jeff Kent: Feb. 21-24
• Jeremy Affeldt: Feb. 23-28
• Brandon Belt: Feb. 23-27
• Marco Scutaro: Feb. 25-28
• Rich Aurilia: Feb. 28-March 4
• Sergio Romo: March 1-6
• Jeffrey Leonard: March 6-12
• Pablo Sandoval: March 9-14
• Hunter Pence: March 12-15
• Will Clark: March 13-15
Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong may join at a later date.
Final thought: Is Posey’s confidence in the current roster justified, or are the Giants setting themselves up for a season of struggles? Share your thoughts below!
