Giants Face Critical Offseason: posey Charts Course for 2026 Contention
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The San Francisco Giants concluded the 2025 season with a familiar result – a .500 record of 81-81, marking the second time in four years they’ve finished at that mark. Despite acknowledging periods of strong play, team president of baseball operations Buster Posey emphasized the need for greater consistency as the institution looks toward becoming true contenders in 2026.
“I thought there were a lot of positives this year,” posey stated, “a little bit quicker. I feel like we took some steps in the right direction. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
that work begins immediately, with four key questions dominating the Giants’ offseason agenda.
The Search for a New Skipper
The most pressing issue is identifying a new manager. Nick Hundley, a former giants catcher from 2017-2018, has emerged as the early frontrunner for the position, according to multiple reports. While hundley, 42, lacks prior managerial experience, his 12 seasons in the majors and current role as a special assistant to the Texas Rangers’ president of baseball operations, Chris Young, provide a strong foundation.
Posey has demonstrated a preference for surrounding himself with trusted colleagues, having previously appointed former Giants outfielder Randy Winn as vice president of player progress and brought in his former agent and general manager, Jeff Berry and Bobby Evans, as advisors. Selecting a former teammate like Hundley would align with this pattern,possibly fostering a long-term partnership and organizational stability.
Other candidates reportedly in the mix include former A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki, Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, and Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello.
Rebuilding the Coaching Staff
With the departure of the previous manager,a significant overhaul of the Giants’ coaching staff is anticipated. Bench coach Ryan Christenson and third-base coach Matt Williams,both of whom joined the team from San Diego,are not expected to return.The fate of the remaining staff will largely depend on the decisions of the new manager.
Posey indicated a shift in his approach to coaching hires, stating he will be more actively involved this time around. This change is driven by inconsistencies observed in areas like outfield defence and baserunning during the 2025 season.
“I do think there will be more input, especially with having gone through this a year now and gathering different information,” Posey explained. “What we’ve relayed to our coaches is there will be agency through the new manager. We will place a advice with the manager, but ultimately they’re free to look at other opportunities as well.”
Last offseason, Posey aggressively addressed the Giants’ needs by signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract. However, with Adames, Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, and Jung Hoo Lee already under substantial contracts, a similar spending spree this winter appears unlikely.
Potential free agent targets include Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker and Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Though, the Giants might potentially be hesitant to commit to further long-term deals or pursue players who would require the forfeiture of draft picks through a qualifying offer.
Assessing Internal Free Agents
The Giants face decisions regarding the futures of several impending free agents: Justin Verlander, Dominic Smith, and Wilmer Flores.
Retaining Verlander, 42, is a possibility, but the veteran right-hander, who posted a 3.85 ERA in 29 starts this year,is expected to attract interest from multiple teams. Re-signing Smith or Flores appears less likely, given the projected playing time for devers and top prospect Bryce Eldridge at first base and designated hitter.
