The San Francisco Giants are approaching an important crossroads, and ESPN insider Buster Olney believes standing still is not an option.
Speaking to Willard and Dibbs on 95.7 The Game, Olney argued the Giants need to be aggressive despite being saddled with several expensive contracts that are difficult to move.
“You’ve got to be aggressive. You have to be bold,” Olney said. “You don’t want to go into next year just saying, ‘Hey, we hope these guys are all better than they were a year ago.’”
That’s easier said than done.
Olney acknowledged as much, noting that executives around the league view the Giants as “stuck” with Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames.
While some frustrated fans have floated the idea of moving such stars, the reality is far more complicated. Devers carries a massive long-term contract, while both Chapman and Adames possess no-trade clauses that give them significant control over their futures.
Even if the Giants wanted to move the players, finding a willing trade partner would be difficult given their disappointing production and contracts and for those reasons, Onley predicted that the trade deadline could get ugly for San Francisco.
Chapman, 33, has four years left at $25.17 million per season; Devers, 29, has seven years left at $28.5 million per season; and Adames, 30, has five years left at $31.14 million per season.
Chapman, a five-time Gold Glove third baseman, is hitting .231 with just two home runs, 21 RBIs and a .647 OPS in 60 games.
Devers, splitting time between first base and DH, is hitting .246 with seven homers, 30 RBIs and a .716 OPS in 61 games.
The shortstop Adames has a .245 average with nine homers, 24 RBIs and a .721 OPS in 60 games.
The franchise now finds itself trapped between competing timelines. It is unclear if Giants leadership views such players as a part of the organization’s long-term plans, but the club’s struggles have made it clear a change is necessary.
For all his struggles, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey remains firmly in place. MLB insider Robert Murray reported that Posey is “not in danger” of getting fired by San Francisco and is “the most unfirable executive in baseball” because of his storied time in orange and black.
If San Francisco chooses to become sellers, veterans on expiring or shorter-term deals could become the focus. Starting pitcher Robbie Ray is expected to draw interest from contenders, while batting champion Luis Arraez could also generate a healthy market.
Neither move would fully reshape the roster, but they could help replenish organizational depth while creating flexibility for future seasons.
The bigger challenge remains the contracts already on the books. Unless Chapman, Adames and Devers rebound significantly, the Giants may find themselves entering another offseason hoping for internal improvement, exactly the scenario Olney believes they cannot afford.
