The San Francisco Giants entered the 2024-2025 offseason with optimism, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a record-breaking $182 million deal. However, momentum has since stalled, with missed opportunities and trade negotiations falling flat. As Spring Training nears, the Giants face mounting pressure to strengthen their roster in the highly competitive National League West.
From optimism to uncertainty: Adames signing and stalled trade talks.
The offseason began with a bang as the Giants secured Willy Adames on a seven-year, $182 million contract, marking the largest deal in franchise history. The acquisition aimed to address a glaring need at shortstop, providing a defensive anchor and offensive upgrade. Yet, since that high-profile signing, the Giants’ front office has struggled to maintain momentum.
Trade negotiations for key players such as outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher Garrett Crochet fell apart when other teams demanded top prospect Bryce Eldridge as part of the package. Eldridge, the Giants’ 2023 first-round pick, is seen as the cornerstone of San Francisco’s farm system, and the front office was unwilling to include him in any deals. This hesitancy, while understandable, has limited the team’s ability to acquire the high-impact talent needed to compete in a stacked NL West.
Financial constraints and missed free-agent opportunities.
Despite their willingness to spend on Adames, the Giants’ offseason has been hampered by financial limitations and a reluctance to offer opt-out clauses to marquee free agents. Corbin Burnes, a former Cy Young winner, expressed interest in joining the Giants but ultimately signed a six-year, $210 million contract with division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, which included an early opt-out clause. The Giants’ refusal to meet such demands has been a recurring theme, with other top-tier players such as Max Fried also slipping through their grasp.
“We believe in our young arms and feel like they are in a position to take some big steps forward,” President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey said when asked about the team’s current priorities. However, critics argue that banking on internal development may not be enough to close the gap with division rivals who have aggressively added star power.
A rookie front office faces growing pains.
The Giants’ struggles in the trade market may also stem from the relative inexperience of their leadership. Buster Posey, in his first full offseason as president of baseball operations, and Zack Minasian, a first-time general manager, have faced skepticism from rival executives. According to reports, other teams have tested the waters with proposals aimed at exploiting the duo’s lack of track record in closing deals. “Until they prove otherwise… they will enter trade discussions as a potential mark to be hoodwinked,” wrote Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
While Posey’s long-term vision and leadership are widely respected, his initial offseason has highlighted the challenges of building a competitive roster while navigating trade negotiations, balancing payroll, and facing external pressures from rival teams. The Giants’ inability to land a marquee talent beyond Adames has added to the perception that the team may still be a step behind its NL West rivals.
What lies ahead: Remaining targets and internal development.
With most top free agents off the board, the Giants may look to veteran options like Max Scherzer to bolster their rotation. Scherzer, despite being 40 and recovering from injuries, could bring a steady presence alongside Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. However, the Giants’ unwillingness to stretch their budget significantly raises questions about whether such a move is feasible.
Internally, the emergence of top prospect Bryce Eldridge remains a beacon of hope. The 20-year-old slugger has impressed at every level of the minor leagues, rising quickly through San Francisco’s farm system. Eldridge is expected to continue his development in Triple-A Sacramento with an eye toward a potential MLB debut in 2025. “We see the upside for this guy being tremendous,” Posey said in December, emphasizing the organization’s cautious approach to his promotion.
Another potential bright spot is the return of center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, who missed most of the 2024 season due to a shoulder injury. Lee, the Giants’ marquee international signing from South Korea, is expected to bring elite contact skills and defensive prowess back to the lineup. FanGraphs projects Lee to deliver a 4.1 WAR season in 2025, second only to catcher Patrick Bailey on the team.
The stakes for 2025: Competing in a supercharged NL West.
The Giants face a daunting challenge in catching up to their division rivals in the National League West. The Los Angeles Dodgers, already a perennial powerhouse, bolstered their rotation with the addition of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki and former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. The Arizona Diamondbacks, fresh off signing Corbin Burnes, have significantly strengthened their pitching staff, while the San Diego Padres continue to boast a lineup loaded with star talent.
San Francisco’s roster, by comparison, appears incomplete. While the team is banking on internal development and the continued progress of young arms, the lack of depth and proven stars on the roster could leave them at a disadvantage. Posey and Minasian’s inability to close deals for players like Tucker or Crochet highlights the uphill battle the team faces in bridging the talent gap.
Financial constraints imposed by ownership also loom large, as the Giants reportedly aim to stay below last season’s payroll of roughly $206 million. This self-imposed limitation has left the team with fewer resources to pursue big-ticket free agents or absorb significant contracts in trades. If these restrictions remain in place, the Giants may struggle to execute the bold moves needed to keep pace in the NL West.
A pivotal year for Posey’s leadership.
As the Giants head into the 2025 season, the pressure is mounting on Buster Posey and his newly assembled front office to deliver results. Their ability to navigate the challenges of player development, trade negotiations, and budgetary constraints will be critical in shaping the team’s trajectory. While Posey’s vision for the future is clear, the clock is ticking for the Giants to prove they can turn potential into performance.
For now, the team’s hopes rest on a mix of promising prospects like Bryce Eldridge, bounce-back performances from veterans like Camilo Doval, and incremental improvements in their player development system. But in a division dominated by aggressive rivals with deep rosters, the Giants’ margin for error remains razor-thin. Whether Posey’s methodical approach can translate into tangible success will be one of the most compelling storylines to watch as the 2025 season unfolds.
