Giants Spring Training Preview: Is a Return to Consistency Coming?

After several seasons of rebuilding and near-misses, the San Francisco Giants aim to make a splash in 2025 with a mix of new faces and returning veterans. 

The offseason saw significant changes for the only team remaining in the bay. Former Brewer Willy Adames and veteran pitcher Justin Verlander joined the team, and former Giants great Buster Posey became president of baseball operations. 

With a renewed sense of optimism and a revamped roster, the Giants are hoping to return to the postseason and reclaim their place among the National League’s elite.

The Giants are still searching for a way to reclaim their place among the stars of the NL West. Since their dominant stretch from 2010 to 2014, when they won three World Series titles in five years, success has been fleeting. Their 107-win season in 2021, which saw them win the NL West and reach the NLDS, seemed like a turning point, but it now feels more like an outlier — they haven’t had a winning season since and have missed the playoffs three years in a row. Questions remain about the team’s depth and whether key players can bounce back from recent struggles. As they try to climb back to NL West title contention, one question still remains: can they build a sustainable winning team or will their championship years continue to become a distant memory?

2024 record: 80-82 (Fourth, NL West)

Last Postseason Appearance: 2021 (Lost NLDS 3-2 to Dodgers)

What Happened in 2024: The Giants’ season was mediocre at best, as the team finished 19th in both ERA and OPS. Starting pitcher Logan Webb stood out, leading the National League with 204.2 innings pitched, posting a 3.47 ERA and 172 strikeouts. Blake Snell, despite being limited to 20 starts due to injuries, delivered a solid performance with a 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts over 104 innings. In the end, the Giants fell short of the star-studded rosters of the Dodgers and Padres, finishing fourth in the National League West, only ahead of the Colorado Rockies.

New Arrivals

• RHP Justin Verlander (Houston Astros)

• SS Willy Adames (Milwaukee Brewers)

• SS Osleivis Basabe (Tampa Bay Rays)
• Lou Trivino (New York Yankees – 2022)

Key Departures:

• LHP Blake Snell (player option declined)

• LHP Taylor Rogers (trade to Cincinnati Reds)

• C Blake Sabol (trade to Boston Red Sox)

Projected Batting Order*

1. 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
2. SS Willy Adames
3. CF Jung Hoo Lee
4. 3B Matt Chapman
5. LF Heliot Ramos
6. RF Mike Yastrzemski
7. 2B Tyler Fitzgerald
8. DH Wilmer Flores
9. C Patrick Bailey

Projected Rotation*

1. Logan Webb (RHP)
2. Justin Verlander (RHP)
3. Robbie Ray (LHP)
4. Jordan Hicks (RHP)
5. Kyle Harrison (LHP)

Projected Bullpen*

• Mid-Relief: Erik Miller (LHP), Sean Hjelle (RHP), Lou Trivino (RHP), Randy Rodríguez (RHP)

• Long-Relief: Tristan Beck (RHP)

• Set-Up: Tyler Rogers (RHP), Camilo Doval (RHP)

• Closer: Ryan Walker (RHP)

Biggest Question: Can the Giants generate enough offensive firepower to compete in the NL West?

In 2024, San Francisco struggled with consistency at the plate, finishing 19th in OPS and frequently failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities. While it added 3B Matt Chapman for defensive stability, it didn’t land a true middle-of-the-order bat to anchor the lineup. The offense needs to remain consistent for the team to have a true chance at getting a Wild Card spot in 2025.

Team MVP: Willy Adames

Coming off a hot season for the Milwaukee Brewers, Adames is expected to fill a significant gap in the Giants lineup. In the 2024 season, he hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs.. The Giants signed Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest since Posey’s in 2013. Offensively, he provides much-needed pop to a lineup that has struggled with consistency. He has consistently been a 20+ home run hitter, which can add some offensive energy to an offense that has been lackluster in previous seasons. 

Breakout Candidate to Watch: Luis Matos.

The 22-year-old outfielder is coming off an impressive performance in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, where he ranked fourth in the league in hits, tied for third in RBIs and led the league in doubles. His strong performance earned him rookie of the year in the league, highlighting his potential with the Giants. If he can make the adjustment to major league pitching and get on base consistently, he can establish himself as an impact player for San Francisco. 

Key Number: 32

Willy Adames hit 32 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, which is particularly significant for San Francisco. The franchise hasn’t had a 30-home run hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004, highlighting a long-standing power deficit in its lineup. Adames’ signing addresses this critical need, though his power numbers may decrease slightly in the more pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.  

The 2025 Season will be successful if… the Giants can return to playoff contention after recent years of mediocrity.

The team will need its key offseason acquisitions to make significant impacts. Equally as important is the success of young players like LHP Kyle Harrison and CF Jung Hoo Lee is important, with Harrison aiming to stay healthy for a full season and Lee looking to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2024. The emergence of top prospect 1B Bryce Eldridge could provide a much-needed power boost to the lineup. The Giants’ ability to compete in the tough NL West will hinge on their rotation’s performance, with veterans like Logan Webb and Robbie Ray needing to anchor the staff effectively.

2025 Prediction: Fourth NL West, No Playoffs

Considering the current roster and potential improvements, the Giants are projected to finish the 2025 season just above .500. This would mark a step forward and could position them as contenders for a Wild Card spot in the National League. However, competing for the division title will require outperforming strong rivals like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres — which is unlikely.

FanGraphs’ Projection: 81-81
Baseball Prospectus: 78-84

*Projections were pulled from FanGraphs as of Feb. 23

Posted: February 23, 2025
Category: Cactus League, San Francisco Giants
Tagged as: Blake Snell, Dodgers, Giants, Jung Hoo Lee, Justin Verlander, Matt Chapman, MLB, MLB Spring Training, NL West, Robbie Ray, San Francisco, San Franciso Giants, Taylor Rogers, Tyler Fitzgerald, Willy Adames, World Series