The SF Giants enter the offseason with some clear needs to address. However, one need that has flown under the radar is at first base. Will the team make a move to address this need in the offseason or just roll with the guys they have?
Obviously, pitching is going to take precedence for the Giants this offseason. The team needs to fill a few spots in the rotation and they are going to have to remake their bullpen after they simply ran out of reliable pitching depth by the end of the 2025 campaign.
SF Giants need to address overlooked offseason need
As for the lineup, the two areas that get mentioned most when thinking of potential upgrades are second base and right field. However, the Giants still have a hole at the first base and designated hitter spot in the lineup.
One of these holes is obviously going to be filled by Rafael Devers. The Giants swung a massive trade for him last season and he is going to be a big part of their plans for the rest of this decade and beyond.
He made his first career start at first base in 2025 and seemed to grow into the position as the season went on. The Giants may decide to roll with him as their everyday first baseman next season or maybe he will split time as the DH and first baseman as he did in 2025.
However, that still leaves one open spot in the order for whichever one Devers does not fill.
There has been some presumption that the Giants would have their top prospect Bryce Eldridge fill that spot in the order, but after a September showing that saw him record just three hits in 28 at-bats can the Giants really be confident enough to have him start the season on the Opening Day roster?
Sure, he did hit the ball hard when he did make contact and had a couple of near home runs. But that is putting a lot of pressure on a rookie player especially when he is just 21 years old.
Maybe the Giants would be better served signing a first baseman/DH type on a one year deal who could be the starter at the beginning of the year and maybe give way to Eldridge at some point if he is tearing it up in the minors.
Dominic Smith is the most logical candidate for this role after the value he provided the team in 2025. The Giants would like him back, but he likely played well enough to secure a better opportunity elsewhere.
Maybe someone like Rhys Hoskins would make sense on a one-year contract just so Eldridge does not have so much pressure on him early on.
We will see if the Giants end up addressing this need this offseason or if they will be too preoccupied with other needs, but it should still be something they look into.
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