What the San Francisco Giants have displayed early this season has been nothing short of the ultimate mirage: they’re quite deceptive, and the universal assumption of being fringe contenders has been washed away by inconsistencies.
As of May 20, FanGraphs projects them to finish 77–85 and fourth in the NL West, with just a 6.7% chance of reaching the postseason. It’s a bleak reality to digest for president of baseball operations Buster Posey, whose fingerprints are all over the architecture of this roster.
The Athletic’s Keith Law joined the Morning Roast with Joe Spadoni and Joe Shasky on Wednesday to discuss a variety of topics related to the Giants, including his belief that Posey’s lack of front office resume has played a role in how this team has performed on the field.
“I just don’t think Buster has any kind of magic touch,” Law said. “He is totally inexperienced for any front office job and it has shown in a couple of these things, unfortunately. I think that is at least part of why they’re in the situation that they’re in.”
Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Rafael Devers — Posey’s trio of high-priced veterans brought in to anchor the offense — have instead become emblematic of San Francisco’s early-season struggles. Rafael Devers has begun to heat up over his last 12 games, posting a .319/.373/.617 slash line, while Willy Adames is 16-for-his-last40 with five extra-base hits and ten runs batted in. Still, the group’s overall production has fallen well short of expectations.
Sure, some fans are already calling for one — or even all three — of those contracts to be moved, but is that actually a realistic possibility?
“It’s not just the price tag, it’s that they’re not good,” Law said. “[Chapman and Adames] are playing terribly right now and you’re not going to get much of a return for a guy on a huge contract who is playing poorly, and where the long-term outlook is not great.”
Chapman, 33, will make $25 million per season for the next four years until 2030. Adames — the recipient of the Giants’ largest free agent contract in franchise history — signed a seven-year, $182 million deal last offseason. Both have a full no-trade clause, adding to their stiff commitment.
When the Giants acquired Devers from the Red Sox last June, they agreed to take on his entire salary — now, a remaining $226.5 million left through 2033.
In short, the Giants are essentially stuck.
However, there’s another lever they could pull: trading all-star right-hander Logan Webb. Could it happen?
“You should absolutely consider it,” Law said. “To me, everyone is available at the right price. There’s no such thing as an untradable player when you’re selling.”
While a Webb trade might not happen and isn’t remotely imminent, his two years of team control presents an attractive option for contenders looking to add a top-of-the-rotation arm with a lengthy track record of effectiveness.
Since 2021, Webb led big league starters in innings pitched (1016 ⅓ ) and ranks third in fWAR (24) behind only Phillies’ Zack Wheeler and Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman. Despite a rough start — a 5.06 ERA in eight starts before hitting the IL with a knee injury — this season, he’s finished in the top ten in National League Cy Young voting for the last three straight years.
“He’s been incredibly effective and durable,” Law said. “There’s so much value in the innings that this guy provides. Once he’s back, healthy, shows he’s back to his usual self — you’re just open to it.”
"It's been sort of patch patch patch and I think that's top-down. I think that's come from ownership, and it might be now ownership through Posey to the rest of the baseball staff."
Keith Law on why the Giants won't do a rebuild (@MorningRoast957) pic.twitter.com/qzc0JWBrWe
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 20, 2026
In terms of traditional trade deadline deals, Law noted the Giants’ best moves are likely trading second baseman Luis Arraez, left-handed starter Robbie Ray — two players on expiring deals — and a few arms from their bullpen, an unexpected area that could net several prospects in return based on precedent set around the league during previous deadlines.
“The Giants don’t have to be looking five years down the road,” Law said. “I don’t think they’re necessarily that far away from contention — that depends on how much they trade off the Major League roster. But if they just trade off the periphery, there’s a chance they could contend again in 2027.”
“He’s totally inexperienced for any front office job, and it has shown in a couple of these things, unfortunately.”
Keith Law on Buster Posey pic.twitter.com/gU3LoO6yU1
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 20, 2026
NOTES
Audacy’s Giants insider and play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming has been hired by NBC Sports to call “MLB Sunday Leadoff.” It’s yet another national endeavor for Flemming, who has called MLB, golf, college basketball and college football for ESPN and Fox Sports.
“It feels like a good partnership, and I’m excited to do it,” Flemming told Spadoni and Shasky on the Morning Roast on Wednesday.
The Giants’ management of Bryce Eldridge continues to be puzzling. San Francisco’s top prospect was absent again from the lineup on Tuesday after a 2-for-4 showing at the plate the night before. Manager Tony Vitello noted D-Backs’ right-handed starter Ryne Nelson’s success against left-handed hitters as a reason for sitting Eldridge, despite having two lefties — Drew Gilbert and Will Brennan — in the lineup instead.
It seems like Eldridge is better off receiving every day at-bats for Triple-A Sacramento, but the Giants’ brass clearly thinks there are benefits to him spending time on the bench. The benefits? We’re not really sure.
“I guess I’m surprised,’’ Eldridge told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale in a recent story about his lack of playing time, “but it’s not my decision. It is what it is. You can argue every day that playing every day would be helpful, but I’m happy to be here.”With San Francisco slipping in the NL West, Law believes no player — including Logan Webb — should be considered untouchable as the trade deadline approaches.
With San Francisco slipping in the NL West, Law believes no player — including Logan Webb — should be considered untouchable as the trade deadline approaches.
