Fantasy Baseball Year in Review – San Francisco Giants

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  • By SportsEthos Staff

    Last Updated on November 5, 2025 4:20 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: November 5, 2025

    The Giants finished as a middling team this year, despite a major swing on the trade market for Rafael Devers. They have now finished at or close to .500 for three straight campaigns. The deal for Devers and the previous signing of Willy Adames signals this management wants to win-now as they are tied to plenty of free agents for the upcoming off-season. But in 2025, for fantasy, there is plenty to unpack and discuss as we get ready for 2026 draft season.

    Catcher

    Catcher was essentially an offensive black hole for the Giants. Patrick Bailey was the primary catcher for most of the year, logging 452 plate appearances, but he didn’t do much with his time at the plate. He hit just six home runs, with 55 RBI, 47 runs and a .222 batting average. He’s more valuable as a defender than a bat, so his numbers will never be more than deep, two catcher league relevant. It’s a position to avoid from the Giants in 2026 drafts.

    First Base

    The June trade with the Red Sox to acquire Rafael Devers added the best power bat the Giants have rostered since, well, since Barry Bonds. He definitely had a tough time adjusting to the change of scenery, as his OPS dropped nearly 100 points and his wRC+ was 20 points worse (though still 126), not to mention he had just two more extra base hits in San Francisco than he did in Boston (in just 65 more plate appearances), but he should be fine in the long run. His power plays in any stadium, the Giants lineup has a chance to be sneaky good with everyone healthy in 2026 and both Devers plus Willy Adames should be fully adjusted to Oracle park after this year. If Devers can maintain the slight gains in contact, swinging strike and chase rates and continue to generate the kind of quality and hard hits that he normally does, he will have a chance for an even better 2026. He finished the year as a top four fantasy first baseman and should be considered one of the five best in 2026 drafts.

    Second Base

    Another position to ignore for fantasy purposes, the Giants second basemen had a rough go of it in 2026. Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald, Christian Koss and Brett Wisely combined for 14 home runs, 54 runs, 65 RBI and 12 stolen bases, with a batting average under .220. Fitzgerald was unable to build on his breakout 2024 season, which was not surprising. A low hard-hit rate combined with poor swing decisions led to lower power and a more difficult time getting on base. Schmitt could be fantasy relevant for small stretches, but even of he was given the full time job would only be worth rostering in very deep formats. Unless they acquire a viable starter, the Giants 2B situation should be avoided in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues.

    Third Base

    A “poor” season out of Matt Chapman seems a lot less poor when you realize he finished the season as the #12 fantasy third baseman and he was the 11th third baseman drafted in 2025 drafts. Sure, it wasn’t the 25/15 season he had in 2024, but injury struggles interrupted what was surely to be another top six or seven finish at the position. He suffered a right hand injury when he dove back into first base in a game on June 8, was placed on the injured list until July, struggled upon his return then went back on the injured list in August. His three worst month performances came after the injury. Prior to the injury, he had 12 home runs, 35 runs, 30 RBI and seven stolen bases with a .243 average and a 132 wRC+ in 272 plate appearances and that was before the Rafael Devers trade. Adding another big bat like Devers to the lineup would have only been a boost to his overall numbers had he been able to perform without his injury sapping his power and contact abilities. He should be treated as a top 12 fantasy third baseman for 2026 drafts, at worst, with the upside to finish inside the top six if he can maintain his health for the entire season.

    Shortstop

    It was a tough first season in San Francisco for Willy Adames. He struggled mightily through the first three months of the season, hitting just nine home runs with 45 runs, 36 RBI, four stolen bases, a .210 batting average and an 81 wRC+ in 358 plate appearances. A hot July carried him into a torrid second half though, when he hit 21 home runs, scored 49 runs, drove in 51 base runners and stole eight bases with a .242 batting average and a 137 wRC+ over 328 plate appearances. It was quite literally night and day, with his improvements coming both at home and on the road. Obviously, the key thing was his improved hitting at home, as Oracle Park can be one of the more difficult places for hitters to produce, thanks to the wild winds that tend to come in off of the water and the deep outfield fences. If he can maintain his home improvements while continuing to produce like he did on the road throughout the season, with Devers and Chapman hitting behind him and Jung Hoo Lee in front of him, Adames could be in line for an even bigger 2026. Another four-plus WAR season with 30 home runs should be the expectation not the hope, with a slight improvement in RBI and batting average moving him into must start in 12 team leagues. For 2026 drafts he should be treated as a top 15-18 fantasy shortstop, drafted to start in a middle infield position or utility spot, with the upside to be a shortstop starter in 12 team leagues.


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    NOTE: Paul Williamson and Anthony Kates contributed to this article.

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    November 5, 2025, 4:20 pm