San Francisco Giants Target Second Baseman in Offseason Search

The San Francisco Giants roll into this offseason with a clear mandate from their front office: fix second base and shore up the pitching staff, especially the bullpen.

Buster Posey is leading the charge, and the organization is aggressively scanning free agency and the trade market for a solution at the keystone after another year of weak production.

At the same time, they’re trying to rebuild a relief corps that’s been gutted by injuries and departures.

The Giants’ Second Base Problem Isn’t Just a Slump — It’s a Trend

Second base has gone from a question mark to a glaring red flag for San Francisco.

What seemed like internal stability early in 2024 turned into a revolving door by the end of 2025, exposing the club’s lack of a reliable, long-term answer at the position.

Fitzgerald’s Fade and Schmitt’s Ceiling

Tyler Fitzgerald started 2024 looking like he’d grab the job and never let go.

He hit enough early on to earn everyday reps at second base, and the organization hoped he’d be a cost-controlled solution. But as the season wore on, the league adjusted to him—and he just never adjusted back.

By the second half, Fitzgerald’s offense cratered so badly that he lost the starting job to Casey Schmitt.

Schmitt steadied the position and managed a league-average performance, which sounds fine on paper but really just highlighted the bigger problem: the Giants weren’t getting any impact from second base.

The combined line from the position in 2025? .217/.273/.343. In a division loaded with power bats and athletic infields, that’s nowhere near enough.

Why Internal Options Aren’t Enough

The Giants can’t realistically ask fans—or the clubhouse—to buy into “running it back” with the same cast.

Fitzgerald’s second-half collapse raises doubts about his long-term offensive future, and Schmitt looks more like a valuable utility guy than a cornerstone starter.

The front office is treating second base as a priority, right up there with right field.

They need a bat that lengthens the lineup and a defender who doesn’t force late-inning substitutions. In this era, middle-infield offense often separates contenders from pretenders. The Giants know they’ve got to upgrade or risk falling further behind the Dodgers and Diamondbacks.

Exploring the Market: Free Agents, Fits, and Red Flags

Fixing second base through free agency won’t be easy.

This winter’s crop is thin, and the Giants’ existing infield commitments only complicate things further.

Ha-Seong Kim, Bo Bichette, and the Fit Question

Ha-Seong Kim is one of the most logical names out there. He declined a $16 million player option and is widely seen as one of the better shortstops available.

For the Giants, he’s interesting for two main reasons:

The problem? Positional clutter. The Giants already have long-term deals for Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers.

That’s a lot of money and a lot of innings already spoken for. Kim would probably need to slide to second base full-time, and the front office has to decide if that’s where they want to spend big.

Bo Bichette is another intriguing possibility—if he’s willing to move off shortstop.

His bat plays anywhere, and his power would instantly change the Giants’ infield offense. But fitting him into a roster with Chapman, Adames, and Devers would take some creative roster gymnastics—and a willingness to push the payroll even higher.

Polanco, Arraez, and the High-Risk Profiles

Jorge Polanco has long seemed like the kind of switch-hitting, power-capable second baseman who could thrive in Oracle Park.

But his knee issues make him a risky bet as an everyday guy. The Giants, trying to get younger and more athletic, just can’t afford to tie themselves to a player who might not physically hold up.

Luis Arraez brings a different set of questions. His hit tool and contact skills are undeniable, and he’d inject instant on-base ability into a lineup that often disappears for stretches.

But his defensive challenges have pushed him mostly to first base, and the Giants already need more power at that corner. For a club emphasizing run prevention and defensive versatility, Arraez feels more like a luxury than a fit.

The Trade Route: Pitching Prospects as Currency

Given how limited free agency looks, the trade market might be the Giants’ best shot at a real upgrade at second base.

This is where the organization’s depth in controllable pitching prospects becomes a huge asset.

Targets: Brandon Lowe, Brendan Donovan, and the Ketel Marte Dream

Brandon Lowe fits the classic Rays trade candidate mold: established pop, some injury questions, and a rising arbitration price.

For the Giants, he’d immediately address the lack of thump at second base, even if his swing-and-miss tendencies are a little scary. His left-handed power could play well in Oracle Park, especially into the right-field arcade.

Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals offers something different—on-base skills, defensive versatility, and a grinder’s approach. He’s the kind of player who lengthens a lineup, moves around the diamond, and gives managers matchup flexibility.

That combo will make him expensive, but the Giants’ young pitching might keep them in the conversation.

Ketel Marte is the dream. He’d instantly change the complexion of the Giants’ infield. But let’s be real—the Diamondbacks are a divisional rival and haven’t shown any interest in moving one of their core guys.

Any deal would be wildly expensive, and trades like that between division rivals almost never happen.

Rebuilding the Bullpen: Quiet Priority with Big Stakes

While second base grabs the headlines, the Giants’ pitching staff—especially the bullpen—needs just as much attention.

They’ve lost key relievers like Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Randy Rodríguez to a mix of injury and departure, leaving a vacuum in late-game roles.

Moderate Investments, Maximum Impact

The organization keeps talking with mid-tier free agent starters, but they’re not about to chase the top names in the pitching market. San Francisco probably won’t go after the biggest, most expensive arms.

Bullpens can decide seasons just as much as lineups, especially in those tight NL West races. By going after value relievers and rebound candidates, the Giants can stretch their budget and still build a staff deep enough to protect leads their lineup should eventually create.

 
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