The San Francisco Giants spent the past three offseasons trying to build a contender. Now they might be heading straight to a fire sale.
After a sluggish 16-24 start to 2026, the Giants are reportedly exploring ways to move several major contracts, including the remaining money owed to Jung Hoo Lee at $85 million, Willy Adames at $161 million, Rafael Devers at $226 million, and Matt Chapman at $125 million. That total represents more than half a billion dollars in committed payroll that San Francisco is at least considering moving in the next two months.
If that sounds like a panic move, that is because it might be one. President Buster Posey was hired specifically to bring stability to a franchise that had spent years swinging and missing on big free agents. The Giants gave up draft capital to sign Adames. They traded for Devers in a deal that sent shockwaves through the sport. They committed to Lee with the largest contract ever given to a Korean position player. The plan was to build a contender for the long haul.
The plan is not working. The Giants are last or near last in the National League West. The offense has underperformed across the board. The pitching staff has been steady but cannot overcome the lineup’s struggles. The injuries that defined the 2025 season have continued to compromise the roster in 2026. And the Dodgers and Padres continue to operate as the gold standards of the division, leaving San Francisco looking up at superior teams with no clear path back to relevance.
The trade conversations have started internally. Posey has reportedly told ownership that the team needs to consider all options. The Giants have not committed to a full teardown, but they are listening on every veteran on the roster, including their highest-paid players.
The market for each player would vary. Devers is the headliner. He is 29, still in his prime, an elite offensive player, and now playing first base after the position switch that came with his arrival in San Francisco. Any contender looking for a middle-of-the-order bat would inquire. The contract is heavy but movable. The Yankees, the Mets, the Mariners, and the Astros are all potential landing spots.
Adames is younger, plays a premium position at shortstop, and is a steady defender with power. His market would be strong but limited by his contract. The Cardinals and Phillies have shortstop needs. Lee has been a disappointment relative to his contract but is still a productive everyday outfielder. His market would be smaller. Chapman has positional versatility but is 33 and on the back end of his prime.
The Giants are not going to give any of these players away. Posey has been clear that the team will only move a veteran if the return justifies the cost. The challenge is that the contracts work against San Francisco. Teams want elite players. They do not want elite contracts. The Giants are going to have to eat money or take back undesirable salary to facilitate any meaningful return.
For fans, this is the latest chapter in a franchise identity crisis that has lasted nearly a decade. The Giants won three championships between 2010 and 2014. They have not been a true contender since. Every attempted reload has fallen short. Now the team is staring at the very real possibility that the next year and a half will involve selling its biggest names just to reset the roster.
The trade deadline is August 3. The Giants have time to play themselves back into the race. They also have time to give up on the season and start over. The next eight weeks will define which direction this franchise goes for the next decade.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
