The San Francisco Giants have already had a busy offseason, hiring Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello. Vitello will be able to coach one of the most historic franchises in Major League Baseball history. Still, the Giants‘ short-term outlook isn’t precisely as promising as it once was.
The Giants will have much to do during the offseason, and finding an infielder to play second base will be at the top of the priority list.
When searching for ways for the Giants to get better at second, Curt Bishop of Sports Illustrated linked them to Jorge Polanco, a switch-hitter coming off a great year with the Seattle Mariners.
“The San Francisco Giants are another team that makes perfect sense for Polanco. After finishing 81-81 and narrowly missing the postseason, San Francisco needs more offensive firepower and leadership in the clubhouse — two things Polanco brings in spades.
“The Giants haven’t had much stability at second base, and Polanco could not only fill that gap but also bring balance as a switch-hitter. Pairing his veteran presence with a young core could be exactly what new manager Tony Vitello needs to spark the lineup,” he wrote.
What Will the Giants Do This Offseason?
While Polanco might not be the perfect player to go after for the San Francisco Giants, given that he’s had some down years throughout his career, he hit .265 last season with 78 RBIs. He also played really well in the postseason for the Mariners when it mattered most at times.
If the San Francisco Giants don’t go out and add a second baseman, Grant Brisbee of The Athletic noted that they could give the everyday second base job to Casey Schmitt, a youngster who has shown some promise in Major League Baseball at times.
“There is a wide, wide range of possibilities at second base. The Giants could go with an in-house player to fill the role, with Casey Schmitt being the most obvious option. If he can control the strike zone, even a little bit, it gives him a chance to be at least average. His defense in the majors hasn’t been as stellar as we were told to expect, but it’s fair to put a little blame on the irregular playing time and a lot of the blame on him learning a new position.
“He played 15 games at second in the minors, and he had two seasons with 15 starts at second in the majors before 2025, when he became the de facto starter at second. With a little more experience, he should be an above-average defender at second, if not better,” he wrote.
Does Mariners’ Jorge Polanco Make Sense for the Giants?
Schmitt hasn’t necessarily had many opportunities at the highest level, playing 90 games in 2023, 40 in 2024, and 95 in 2025.
He’s been up and down throughout his career, but he’s also shown the ability to leave the yard at points.
It wouldn’t be the worst idea to allow him to play second base, but someone like Polanco makes a lot more sense, given what he’s done throughout his career, and the San Francisco Giants are looking to win as soon as possible.
