What’s next for SF Giants after missing the playoffs and firing Bob Melvin

SAN FRANCISCO — So, what now?

The Giants failed to make the playoffs in Buster Posey’s first season as president of baseball operations, then kicked off their offseason on Monday by firing manager Bob Melvin. Despite an underwhelming — yet far from uneventful — year where they finished .500, the team’s leaders expressed optimism when looking to next year.

“Buster is going to do whatever it takes to put this team in the best position to go out there and have the best team.” said shortstop Willy Adames, who became the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds. “I feel like the guys that are here are going to work hard to be better next year, including myself.”

“There’s a core to build around,” said starter Logan Webb. “I think we’re all excited. We’re all very disappointed in how this ended. I know the fans are disappointed. We’re more disappointed than they are. We just got to put our heads down. A lot of us live in Arizona, so we’re going to be together all offseason and do everything we can to get this franchise back to where it’s supposed to be.”

That will start with finding a manager — ideally someone who will hold down that role for more than two seasons.

The firing of Melvin marks a third consecutive year that the franchise has replaced a prominent figure. Former manager Gabe Kapler was fired with three games remaining in the 2023 season and replaced by Melvin in the offseason, then former president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was fired after the 2024 season and replaced by Posey.

“It’s definitely not ideal,” Posey said. “We talked about it a lot, what the standards are for the Giants. We have high standards and I hold myself to those same standards. … You, without a doubt, hope there can be consistency in these leadership positions.”

The changes likely won’t stop with Melvin. Posey said on Monday that the Giants’ coaching staff had been notified and that “some of the staffing is going to be dependent on whoever the new manager ends up being.”

From there, Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and the rest of the Giants’ brass will shift to the roster, one that features a foundation but needs refinement.

Webb was not exaggerating when he said last week, “This is the most talented team I’ve been on.” At one point, the Giants’ roster featured eight current or former All-Stars — Webb, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander, Camilo Doval, Randy Rodríguez, Heliot Ramos. That doesn’t include Adames, who hit 30 homers for the third time.

As things stand, the core for next year’s team will feature Adames, Chapman, Devers, Ray and Webb along with Ramos, Landen Roupp, Patrick Bailey, Jung Hoo Lee and top prospect Bryce Eldridge. With Devers and Eldridge in the mix, it’s unlikely that impending free agents Wilmer Flores and Dominic Smith return next season.

For all those pieces, the Giants need more help, namely on the pitching side.

Webb, Ray and Roupp stand to anchor the rotation, but the final two spots are up in the air as Verlander is set to hit free agency. The Giants have internal options — Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell, Trevor McDonald, Kai-Wei Teng and Carson Seymour — but the team learned the risks of relying on young arms this season.

Verlander, who will be 43 in February, said he would “consider anything” when asked if he would consider re-signing with San Francisco. He’s likely to command interest after anchoring the Giants’ rotation. Considering his pursuit of reaching 300 career wins (he’s 34 away), it’s worth wondering if his lack of luck in San Francisco will factor into a reunion.

“I really enjoyed the guys here,” Verlander said. “Obviously, it was a tough season personally. But as far as an organization and the guys I got to play with here, it was so class. Off the field and in the locker room, one of the more fun seasons I’ve ever had.”

There’s also the matter of a bullpen, a unit that was decimated by injuries and trades.

At full strength, the Giants’ bullpen featured Rodríguez, Doval, Tyler Rogers, Erik Miller and Ryan Walker. By season’s end, Doval and Rogers were traded, Rodríguez had undergone Tommy John surgery and Miller missed the last three months due to a persistent elbow sprain. Walker re-assumed the closer role after losing it in May but couldn’t replicate last season’s dominance.

Should the Giants acquire a starting pitcher or two, it’s possible they have some young starters pitch out of the bullpen to start the season. Birdsong, for example, began the year as a reliever and excelled in that role before re-joining the rotation.

On the position player side, the Giants’ primary focus should be right field. The team never found a true replacement for Mike Yastrzemski, using five different players  in right field after trading him to the Royals.

Four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker is arguably the top free agent of this class, but the Giants may not take on another nine-figure contract after extending Chapman, trading for Devers and signing Adames. And speaking of Adames, he’s more than willing to help recruit if it means bringing more talent to the Bay.

“I’m going to be on that for sure,” Adames said. “I want this team to be better. … I’m going to do whatever I can to make it happen. We already got Rafi. We need more help. I know Buster is going to do whatever it takes. He doesn’t like to lose. He’s already mad.”