2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 24

With the Cardinals eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in St. Louis, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Rockies, Twins and more?

Things that went right

In nearly every area, including runs scored and runs allowed, the Cardinals were an average team. But defense was where they excelled, as they spent the season ranked among the leaders in Fielding Run Value, per Statcast. Shortstop Masyn Winn and center fielder Victor Scott II were the catalysts of that success, and Willson Contreras fared well in his debut season at first base.

The other strength of the team was the bullpen. Surprisingly, Ryan Helsley did not drive that success. He was solid for four months before being traded to the Mets, but this was not his most dominant season. His performance was bettered by JoJo Romero, Kyle Leahy, Matt Svanson and Riley O’Brien.

A pair of former catchers provided the biggest storylines for the offense. Contreras not only was a good fielder at first but also handled the position switch well while continuing to provide steady production at the plate. Iván Herrera opened the season behind the dish but quickly became the DH and was the Cardinals’ best hitter in a campaign that was interrupted twice by IL stints.

Things that went wrong

The Cardinals’ rotation deserves credit for durability, but there was little good news beyond that. Not much was expected of Andre Pallante and Miles Mikolas, yet they struggled to meet even modest ambitions. Erick Fedde went from being a valued addition at last year’s trade deadline to being designated for assignment and shipped to the pitching-starved Braves in July. And Sonny Gray was respectable overall but faltered badly as the team went 8-16 in July and fell out of the postseason race.

The lineup plodded its way to a respectable season despite some serious holes. As good as Scott was defensively, he gave back all that value and more by being one of baseball’s worst hitters. His playing time was cut in August as his OPS continued to float around .600. Another young outfielder, Jordan Walker, was an even bigger disappointment. Once expected to be a lineup centerpiece, Walker struggled mightily at the dish for a second straight year. Thanks to poor plate control and a penchant for hitting grounders, Walker is no longer a lock to have a regular role next year.

The other big disappointment was Nolan Arenado, who owned a .660 OPS when he landed on the IL due to a shoulder injury on July 30. He returned in September but didn’t fare any better. The struggles of the 34-year-old were especially disappointing for the fan base given the fact he vetoed a trade to Houston last winter.

Offseason outlook

For better or worse, most of the current Cardinals are under contract for 2026.

Pedro Pagés has already proven to have solid defensive skills, but his bat remains a work in progress. He took a small step backward offensively and could soon face competition from younger catchers in the organization. Contreras is solidified as the first baseman, and though he can play multiple positions, Brendan Donovan is available to open 2026 at second base. Winn’s defensive skills will keep him in a full-time role, though he proved to be overmatched as a leadoff hitter and will instead bat further down the lineup. And unless the front office takes another run at trading Arenado, he will be the third baseman for two more years. The other infield option is Nolan Gorman, who had a miserable start to the season but earned regular playing time down the stretch. He can play second or third base.

Although there aren’t any stars in the bunch, the Cardinals have plenty of outfielders. Alec Burleson is arguably the best hitter of the group and should handle left field. Lars Nootbaar is the other player who has shown some talent at the dish, and he adds the benefit of being able to play anywhere in the outfield. The team will have to decide what to do with Walker and Scott, who will be 23 and 25, respectively, on Opening Day. As things stand right now, the four listed here will share playing time and could each appear in at least 100 games.

The Cardinals have several rotation options but could really use an ace. Gray will lead the staff as he enters the final year on his contract. Matthew Liberatore fared well until he ran out of steam in the second half, and Michael McGreevy likely did just enough to earn a spot at the back of the rotation. Andre Pallante is another backend option who doesn’t dominate but used his heavy ground-ball lean to eat innings every fifth game. Miles Mikolas is heading to free agency, which might not be a bad thing for a club needing to upgrade his spot.

Despite the loss of Helsley, St. Louis is in good shape in the bullpen. Romero, O’Brien, Leahy and Svanson are all in the primes of their careers and under contract for 2026 and beyond. The front office could choose to sign an experienced closer, but it might make more sense to use the money on a starting pitcher and allow an anchor to emerge from this group.

[Get more St. Louis news: Cardinals team feed]

Prospects on the horizon

The Cardinals have a potential superstar in the making with JJ Wetherholt. The seventh overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt has dominated minor-league hurlers throughout his quick rise to Triple-A. A natural shortstop, he will likely switch positions due to the presence of the slick-fielding Winn. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 22-year-old Wetherholt, who has already gained experience at second base. He’s a real threat to make the 2026 Opening Day roster.

Liam Doyle became the organization’s top pitching prospect as soon as he was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. A lefty with four pitches, Doyle gets plenty of whiffs off a dominant fastball. He is most likely to debut in 2027 but can’t be counted out if the team needs help next year.

Quinn Mathews is the other pitching prospect to note. In fact, it’s surprising to see Mathews in this section, as most observers expected him to be in the Cardinals’ rotation by now. Unfortunately, he dealt with a shoulder injury early in the season and took a long time to build back up to throwing five-plus innings in his starts. The lefty has terrific swing-and-miss skills and will push for a rotation spot in spring training.

The Cardinals have a pair of catchers who will soon challenge Pagés for playing time, Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks. Bernal is considered to have the higher ceiling, but Crooks is three years older and therefore should reach the majors sooner. In fact, Crooks could open 2026 as Pagés’ partner.

Goals for 2026

The Cardinals are stuck in the middle right now. They have a solid roster that would be the envy of bottom-feeders such as the Pirates. But in both the lineup and the rotation, the team lacks the game-changing players necessary to compete with baseball’s best teams.

In a perfect scenario, Wetherholt becomes the next St. Louis superstar. However, it’s reasonable to think he’ll need at least a couple of years to reach that level of performance. In the meantime, the front office will need to decide if they can acquire high-end players via trade or free agency. If they fail to make that happen, the Cardinals are destined to hover around .500 again before falling out of the postseason race next summer.

There is an option for the team to take a step backward in an effort to eventually take two or three steps forward. That would mean trading Gray for prospects and being open to the same with Contreras and Donovan. But this path feels unlikely in one of baseball’s most passionate markets. After all, St. Louis has logged a losing record just twice this century.

Fantasy focus

Due to a lack of star players, there won’t be any Cardinals selected in the early rounds of 2026 fantasy drafts. In fact, some drafts will reach their midpoint before Gray leads off an onslaught of St. Louis players who can serve as reliable contributors. That list includes Contreras, Donovan, Burleson, Herrera, Liberatore, Winn and whoever emerges as the team’s closer.

There’s also a chance that Wetherholt emerges in spring training as a real competitor for an Opening Day job and creates so much fantasy buzz that he becomes the first Cardinal selected in drafts. At the very least, he will be a late-round option who can be stashed on the bench until his debut.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 24

With the Cardinals eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in St. Louis, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Rockies, Twins and more?

Things that went right

In nearly every area, including runs scored and runs allowed, the Cardinals were an average team. But defense was where they excelled, as they spent the season ranked among the leaders in Fielding Run Value, per Statcast. Shortstop Masyn Winn and center fielder Victor Scott II were the catalysts of that success, and Willson Contreras fared well in his debut season at first base.

The other strength of the team was the bullpen. Surprisingly, Ryan Helsley did not drive that success. He was solid for four months before being traded to the Mets, but this was not his most dominant season. His performance was bettered by JoJo Romero, Kyle Leahy, Matt Svanson and Riley O’Brien.

A pair of former catchers provided the biggest storylines for the offense. Contreras not only was a good fielder at first but also handled the position switch well while continuing to provide steady production at the plate. Iván Herrera opened the season behind the dish but quickly became the DH and was the Cardinals’ best hitter in a campaign that was interrupted twice by IL stints.

Things that went wrong

The Cardinals’ rotation deserves credit for durability, but there was little good news beyond that. Not much was expected of Andre Pallante and Miles Mikolas, yet they struggled to meet even modest ambitions. Erick Fedde went from being a valued addition at last year’s trade deadline to being designated for assignment and shipped to the pitching-starved Braves in July. And Sonny Gray was respectable overall but faltered badly as the team went 8-16 in July and fell out of the postseason race.

The lineup plodded its way to a respectable season despite some serious holes. As good as Scott was defensively, he gave back all that value and more by being one of baseball’s worst hitters. His playing time was cut in August as his OPS continued to float around .600. Another young outfielder, Jordan Walker, was an even bigger disappointment. Once expected to be a lineup centerpiece, Walker struggled mightily at the dish for a second straight year. Thanks to poor plate control and a penchant for hitting grounders, Walker is no longer a lock to have a regular role next year.

The other big disappointment was Nolan Arenado, who owned a .660 OPS when he landed on the IL due to a shoulder injury on July 30. He returned in September but didn’t fare any better. The struggles of the 34-year-old were especially disappointing for the fan base given the fact he vetoed a trade to Houston last winter.

Offseason outlook

For better or worse, most of the current Cardinals are under contract for 2026.

Pedro Pagés has already proven to have solid defensive skills, but his bat remains a work in progress. He took a small step backward offensively and could soon face competition from younger catchers in the organization. Contreras is solidified as the first baseman, and though he can play multiple positions, Brendan Donovan is available to open 2026 at second base. Winn’s defensive skills will keep him in a full-time role, though he proved to be overmatched as a leadoff hitter and will instead bat further down the lineup. And unless the front office takes another run at trading Arenado, he will be the third baseman for two more years. The other infield option is Nolan Gorman, who had a miserable start to the season but earned regular playing time down the stretch. He can play second or third base.

Although there aren’t any stars in the bunch, the Cardinals have plenty of outfielders. Alec Burleson is arguably the best hitter of the group and should handle left field. Lars Nootbaar is the other player who has shown some talent at the dish, and he adds the benefit of being able to play anywhere in the outfield. The team will have to decide what to do with Walker and Scott, who will be 23 and 25, respectively, on Opening Day. As things stand right now, the four listed here will share playing time and could each appear in at least 100 games.

The Cardinals have several rotation options but could really use an ace. Gray will lead the staff as he enters the final year on his contract. Matthew Liberatore fared well until he ran out of steam in the second half, and Michael McGreevy likely did just enough to earn a spot at the back of the rotation. Andre Pallante is another backend option who doesn’t dominate but used his heavy ground-ball lean to eat innings every fifth game. Miles Mikolas is heading to free agency, which might not be a bad thing for a club needing to upgrade his spot.

Despite the loss of Helsley, St. Louis is in good shape in the bullpen. Romero, O’Brien, Leahy and Svanson are all in the primes of their careers and under contract for 2026 and beyond. The front office could choose to sign an experienced closer, but it might make more sense to use the money on a starting pitcher and allow an anchor to emerge from this group.

[Get more St. Louis news: Cardinals team feed]

Prospects on the horizon

The Cardinals have a potential superstar in the making with JJ Wetherholt. The seventh overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt has dominated minor-league hurlers throughout his quick rise to Triple-A. A natural shortstop, he will likely switch positions due to the presence of the slick-fielding Winn. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 22-year-old Wetherholt, who has already gained experience at second base. He’s a real threat to make the 2026 Opening Day roster.

Liam Doyle became the organization’s top pitching prospect as soon as he was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. A lefty with four pitches, Doyle gets plenty of whiffs off a dominant fastball. He is most likely to debut in 2027 but can’t be counted out if the team needs help next year.

Quinn Mathews is the other pitching prospect to note. In fact, it’s surprising to see Mathews in this section, as most observers expected him to be in the Cardinals’ rotation by now. Unfortunately, he dealt with a shoulder injury early in the season and took a long time to build back up to throwing five-plus innings in his starts. The lefty has terrific swing-and-miss skills and will push for a rotation spot in spring training.

The Cardinals have a pair of catchers who will soon challenge Pagés for playing time, Leonardo Bernal and Jimmy Crooks. Bernal is considered to have the higher ceiling, but Crooks is three years older and therefore should reach the majors sooner. In fact, Crooks could open 2026 as Pagés’ partner.

Goals for 2026

The Cardinals are stuck in the middle right now. They have a solid roster that would be the envy of bottom-feeders such as the Pirates. But in both the lineup and the rotation, the team lacks the game-changing players necessary to compete with baseball’s best teams.

In a perfect scenario, Wetherholt becomes the next St. Louis superstar. However, it’s reasonable to think he’ll need at least a couple of years to reach that level of performance. In the meantime, the front office will need to decide if they can acquire high-end players via trade or free agency. If they fail to make that happen, the Cardinals are destined to hover around .500 again before falling out of the postseason race next summer.

There is an option for the team to take a step backward in an effort to eventually take two or three steps forward. That would mean trading Gray for prospects and being open to the same with Contreras and Donovan. But this path feels unlikely in one of baseball’s most passionate markets. After all, St. Louis has logged a losing record just twice this century.

Fantasy focus

Due to a lack of star players, there won’t be any Cardinals selected in the early rounds of 2026 fantasy drafts. In fact, some drafts will reach their midpoint before Gray leads off an onslaught of St. Louis players who can serve as reliable contributors. That list includes Contreras, Donovan, Burleson, Herrera, Liberatore, Winn and whoever emerges as the team’s closer.

There’s also a chance that Wetherholt emerges in spring training as a real competitor for an Opening Day job and creates so much fantasy buzz that he becomes the first Cardinal selected in drafts. At the very least, he will be a late-round option who can be stashed on the bench until his debut.

The Mets shuffled up their bullpen once again on Thursday, calling up right-hander Kevin Herget from Triple-A Syracuse.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment, while righty Chris Devenski was outrighted to Triple-A.

Herget, 34, has appeared in five games for the Mets this season, pitching to a 3.27 ERA with five strikeouts and 10 hits allowed over the course of 11.0 innings. His most recent appearance was 1.2 scoreless innings against the Reds on Sept. 6.

Lovelady, meanwhile, continues to bounce back and forth between the active roster and the minor leagues. The lefty pitched 2.0 innings for the Mets in Wednesday’s loss to the Cubs, allowing two runs (one earned) while throwing 31 pitches.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 24

With the Giants eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in San Francisco, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Rockies, Twins and more?

Things that went right

San Francisco excelled on the mound and ranked among the team ERA leaders all season. The success was primarily driven by the relief corps. Randy Rodríguez was as effective as any reliever in baseball until he landed on the IL in late August. Unfortunately, Rodríguez, who transitioned to the closer’s role after Camilo Doval was traded at the deadline, needed Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for 2026. Tyler Rogers posted an absurd 38:4 K:BB ratio over 50 innings, which drove up his trade value and allowed the front office to ship him to the Mets for a prospect package. Doval was a solid closer before he was dealt to the Yankees, and after faltering in April as a closer, Ryan Walker mostly returned to form as a setup man.

The Giants were also fortunate to have two rotation standouts in Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Already an ultra-reliable starter thanks to his durability and heavy groundball lean, Webb showed improvements by punching out batters at a higher rate. In his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Ray was even more effective than Webb. The January 2024 acquisition of Ray for Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani now looks like one of baseball’s most lopsided deals in recent memory.

Things that went wrong

The Giants ranked among the bottom half of baseball in run-scoring, largely due to a lack of impact players in the lineup. No one on the roster is on pace to hit 30 homers, drive in 90 runs, steal 15 bases or post an OPS above .800. Willy Adames might wind up leading the club in homers and RBI, but he got off to a slow start and by the end of the season will have contributed less than what was expected when he signed a $182 million contract last offseason.

Rafael Devers was supposed to become the team’s star when he was acquired in June, but he wasn’t much better than average. Patrick Bailey’s power stroke completely disappeared, and he struggled to keep his batting average above .200 all season. Finally, Tyler Fitzgerald couldn’t repeat the success of his breakout 2024 season, which led to multiple summer demotions to Triple-A. Not a single position player on this team exceeded expectations.

While the pitching staff was effective overall, the team struggled to fill out its rotation all season. Justin Verlander struggled badly at times during his age-42 season. Jordan Hicks flopped in the rotation and was eventually included in the Devers trade. Hayden Birdsong struggled to lower his walk rate, which resulted in a failed trial as a starter and a return to Triple-A.

[Get more Giants news: San Francisco team feed]

Offseason outlook

The Giants are mostly set around the infield, and they will count on some players to improve next year. One of them is Bailey, who must remain the No. 1 catcher due to his incredible defensive skills. The lineup would look much better if Bailey could push his OPS into at least the .650 range. The corner infield spots are set for several years, with Devers at first and Matt Chapman at third. Chapman and shortstop Adames provide excellent defense on the left side of the infield, though both will be looking for better offensive seasons. Casey Schmitt played well enough at second base to be considered for a full-time role but not well enough to have that role secured.

The outfield has just one name that can be written in pen: center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Although not an impact player, Lee has a multi-year contract and fares well enough at the plate and in the field to maintain a heavy workload. Heliot Ramos will also be a lineup regular next season, but his poor defense in left field will have the organization considering a move to DH. After trading away pending free agent Mike Yastrzemski at the deadline, the team doesn’t have a strong candidate to play right field.

With Webb and Ray, the Giants can match the top two starters on any team in baseball. Unfortunately, things fall off quickly from there. Landen Roupp needs to lower his walk rate but easily pitched well enough this year to have a spot in the 2026 rotation. Birdsong could grab a spot as well, but he’ll need to show in spring training that he can more consistently hit the strike zone. Carson Whisenhunt and Kai-Wei Teng will compete for spots but didn’t show enough in late-season auditions to give them a leg up on the competition.

Even after trading away Doval and Rogers, the Giants are in a good place with their bullpen. Rodríguez and Walker give the team an effective closer and setup man. José Buttó, who came over in the Rogers trade, could audition for a rotation spot but will otherwise be a key reliever. Finding a reliable lefty will be important, as Joey Lucchesi is heading to free agency.

Prospects on the horizon

The good news: The Giants’ farm system took notable strides this year. The bad news: Those strides were mostly taken by players who are two or three years from reaching the majors.

Hulking first baseman Bryce Eldridge, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023, is the one player who should make a major impact in 2026. Although he could stand to improve his plate discipline, Eldridge didn’t strike out at an alarming rate in the minors, which offers hope that he can have a smooth transition to a full-time role in San Francisco. He debuted in the second half of September amid the Giants’ playoff push. First base is currently blocked by Devers, but the team could use Devers or Eldridge as the regular DH.

Drew Gilbert could also contribute next year, though his prospect status has declined in recent years. A first-round pick by the Astros in 2022, Gilbert arrived in the Rogers trade. He has rarely raked in the minors and now projects as a depth outfielder rather than an impact player.

Whisenhunt will make every effort to build on his work with the Giants this year and earn a rotation spot in spring training. Blade Tidwell, another player acquired from the Mets in July, had a solid season in Triple-A and could compete for a spot as well.

Goals for 2026

Although president of baseball operations Buster Posey shifted into the role of seller at the trade deadline, he surely has plans to return the Giants to the postseason in 2026. Leapfrogging the Dodgers and Padres will be a tough task, and the Diamondbacks could rebound from a losing season in a hurry.

For the Giants to play in October, Posey will need to find contributors in right field and the rotation. He could settle for innings-eaters on the starting staff, but the lineup needs another impact hitter. Otherwise, the organization will cross its fingers that Devers immediately returns to the form that made him one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. They can also pin hopes on Eldridge becoming an impact player in his rookie year.

Fantasy focus

Fantasy managers will have a tough decision with Devers, who has been selected in the range of Round 2-3 for several years. Coming off a down year and no longer playing home games at Fenway Park will likely cause the veteran slugger to fall to Round 4-5.

Webb and Ray will follow Devers in 2026 drafts. Both profile as a low-end ace or high-end No. 2 starter on fantasy teams, and they should be selected in the range of Round 5-6. Rodríguez will be a popular pick as well, as managers speculate on his ability to combine his 2025 ratios with 35 saves. He should be selected among the top 10 relievers.

Adames and Chapman will have their names called in the middle rounds of drafts, and Ramos and Roupp will be popular picks in the late rounds.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 24

With the Giants eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in San Francisco, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Rockies, Twins and more?

Things that went right

San Francisco excelled on the mound and ranked among the team ERA leaders all season. The success was primarily driven by the relief corps. Randy Rodríguez was as effective as any reliever in baseball until he landed on the IL in late August. Unfortunately, Rodríguez, who transitioned to the closer’s role after Camilo Doval was traded at the deadline, needed Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for 2026. Tyler Rogers posted an absurd 38:4 K:BB ratio over 50 innings, which drove up his trade value and allowed the front office to ship him to the Mets for a prospect package. Doval was a solid closer before he was dealt to the Yankees, and after faltering in April as a closer, Ryan Walker mostly returned to form as a setup man.

The Giants were also fortunate to have two rotation standouts in Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Already an ultra-reliable starter thanks to his durability and heavy groundball lean, Webb showed improvements by punching out batters at a higher rate. In his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Ray was even more effective than Webb. The January 2024 acquisition of Ray for Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani now looks like one of baseball’s most lopsided deals in recent memory.

Things that went wrong

The Giants ranked among the bottom half of baseball in run-scoring, largely due to a lack of impact players in the lineup. No one on the roster is on pace to hit 30 homers, drive in 90 runs, steal 15 bases or post an OPS above .800. Willy Adames might wind up leading the club in homers and RBI, but he got off to a slow start and by the end of the season will have contributed less than what was expected when he signed a $182 million contract last offseason.

Rafael Devers was supposed to become the team’s star when he was acquired in June, but he wasn’t much better than average. Patrick Bailey’s power stroke completely disappeared, and he struggled to keep his batting average above .200 all season. Finally, Tyler Fitzgerald couldn’t repeat the success of his breakout 2024 season, which led to multiple summer demotions to Triple-A. Not a single position player on this team exceeded expectations.

While the pitching staff was effective overall, the team struggled to fill out its rotation all season. Justin Verlander struggled badly at times during his age-42 season. Jordan Hicks flopped in the rotation and was eventually included in the Devers trade. Hayden Birdsong struggled to lower his walk rate, which resulted in a failed trial as a starter and a return to Triple-A.

[Get more Giants news: San Francisco team feed]

Offseason outlook

The Giants are mostly set around the infield, and they will count on some players to improve next year. One of them is Bailey, who must remain the No. 1 catcher due to his incredible defensive skills. The lineup would look much better if Bailey could push his OPS into at least the .650 range. The corner infield spots are set for several years, with Devers at first and Matt Chapman at third. Chapman and shortstop Adames provide excellent defense on the left side of the infield, though both will be looking for better offensive seasons. Casey Schmitt played well enough at second base to be considered for a full-time role but not well enough to have that role secured.

The outfield has just one name that can be written in pen: center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Although not an impact player, Lee has a multi-year contract and fares well enough at the plate and in the field to maintain a heavy workload. Heliot Ramos will also be a lineup regular next season, but his poor defense in left field will have the organization considering a move to DH. After trading away pending free agent Mike Yastrzemski at the deadline, the team doesn’t have a strong candidate to play right field.

With Webb and Ray, the Giants can match the top two starters on any team in baseball. Unfortunately, things fall off quickly from there. Landen Roupp needs to lower his walk rate but easily pitched well enough this year to have a spot in the 2026 rotation. Birdsong could grab a spot as well, but he’ll need to show in spring training that he can more consistently hit the strike zone. Carson Whisenhunt and Kai-Wei Teng will compete for spots but didn’t show enough in late-season auditions to give them a leg up on the competition.

Even after trading away Doval and Rogers, the Giants are in a good place with their bullpen. Rodríguez and Walker give the team an effective closer and setup man. José Buttó, who came over in the Rogers trade, could audition for a rotation spot but will otherwise be a key reliever. Finding a reliable lefty will be important, as Joey Lucchesi is heading to free agency.

Prospects on the horizon

The good news: The Giants’ farm system took notable strides this year. The bad news: Those strides were mostly taken by players who are two or three years from reaching the majors.

Hulking first baseman Bryce Eldridge, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023, is the one player who should make a major impact in 2026. Although he could stand to improve his plate discipline, Eldridge didn’t strike out at an alarming rate in the minors, which offers hope that he can have a smooth transition to a full-time role in San Francisco. He debuted in the second half of September amid the Giants’ playoff push. First base is currently blocked by Devers, but the team could use Devers or Eldridge as the regular DH.

Drew Gilbert could also contribute next year, though his prospect status has declined in recent years. A first-round pick by the Astros in 2022, Gilbert arrived in the Rogers trade. He has rarely raked in the minors and now projects as a depth outfielder rather than an impact player.

Whisenhunt will make every effort to build on his work with the Giants this year and earn a rotation spot in spring training. Blade Tidwell, another player acquired from the Mets in July, had a solid season in Triple-A and could compete for a spot as well.

Goals for 2026

Although president of baseball operations Buster Posey shifted into the role of seller at the trade deadline, he surely has plans to return the Giants to the postseason in 2026. Leapfrogging the Dodgers and Padres will be a tough task, and the Diamondbacks could rebound from a losing season in a hurry.

For the Giants to play in October, Posey will need to find contributors in right field and the rotation. He could settle for innings-eaters on the starting staff, but the lineup needs another impact hitter. Otherwise, the organization will cross its fingers that Devers immediately returns to the form that made him one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. They can also pin hopes on Eldridge becoming an impact player in his rookie year.

Fantasy focus

Fantasy managers will have a tough decision with Devers, who has been selected in the range of Round 2-3 for several years. Coming off a down year and no longer playing home games at Fenway Park will likely cause the veteran slugger to fall to Round 4-5.

Webb and Ray will follow Devers in 2026 drafts. Both profile as a low-end ace or high-end No. 2 starter on fantasy teams, and they should be selected in the range of Round 5-6. Rodríguez will be a popular pick as well, as managers speculate on his ability to combine his 2025 ratios with 35 saves. He should be selected among the top 10 relievers.

Adames and Chapman will have their names called in the middle rounds of drafts, and Ramos and Roupp will be popular picks in the late rounds.