The San Francisco Giants fell to 65–94 with Wednesday’s 4–2 loss to the Minnesota Twins, leaving them fourth in the National League West and out of postseason contention. Injuries gutted the roster, but they cannot explain a season that had gone sideways well before September. In Tony Vitello's first year, San Francisco sold six big leaguers and turned September into an audition.

Now president of baseball operations Buster Posey must decide what that audition means. The Giants have established talent, but getting healthy will not fix everything. These three offseason changes would give Vitello a clearer path in his second season.

Make the young lineup the plan

Bryce Eldridge earned more than a temporary opening. The 21-year-old hit .269 with 17 home runs in 107 games before a concussion ended his season. Give him first base from Opening Day. When Rafael Devers returns from core muscle surgery, build around his bat at designated hitter instead of forcing Eldridge into sporadic starts.

Marcelo Mayer should get the first chance to own second base. San Francisco acquired him from the Boston Red Sox in August, but injuries delayed his Giants debut until Monday. Luis Arraez's departure opened second base. Filling it with another veteran before Mayer gets a meaningful opportunity would undermine one of the deadline's most intriguing bets.

Bo Davidson deserves a real chance in the outfield, too. He hit .290 with 29 homers across Double-A and Triple-A before his call-up. Jung Hoo Lee should remain in the outfield picture when healthy. But San Francisco should avoid a stopgap who leaves Davidson fighting for scattered starts.

The Giants need to decide who will shape their next good team, then let those players face big league pitching regularly. If a veteran blocks that plan, Posey should explore a trade. Young players need more than a September audition. They need defined roles and room to struggle without losing their jobs after one bad week.

Add two proven starters and plan for seven

Logan Webb and Landen Roupp offer a foundation, not a complete rotation. Webb finished with a 4.31 ERA over 27 starts before a blister ended his year. Roupp reached a career-high 155 innings, then stopped pitching because of workload concerns. Neither should have to carry a staff without reliable help.

Blade Tidwell's outlook became more troubling Tuesday. An MRI revealed a UCL sprain, and doctors recommended surgery, although he could seek another opinion. Hayden Birdsong, Trevor McDonald and Carson Whisenhunt are expected to miss much of 2027 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle left in deadline trades. Counting on quick recoveries and unproven arms is not a rotation strategy.

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Posey should acquire two established starters, ideally one through free agency and another through a trade, then add a swingman who can cover several starts. Make the younger candidates win jobs instead of assigning them innings by default. Target pitchers with recent workloads and dependable command, not merely recognizable names coming off injuries.

That is a significant investment for a club coming off a 90-loss season. It would protect Webb, manage Roupp's workload and spare the bullpen. The Giants need seven plausible starters entering camp, even if only five begin in the rotation.

Rebuild the bullpen from the late innings forward

The Giants cannot solve their pitching problem by addressing the rotation alone. Their relief depth became so thin Saturday that Vitello used Philip Abner in a tied game against the Los Angeles Dodgers partly because he was the only available left-hander. Abner had allowed four homers in one inning the night before. That is a roster construction problem as much as a tough managerial decision.

San Francisco’s front office should add two relievers it can trust in the seventh inning or later, including a dependable left-hander. It also needs pitchers with minor league options so Vitello can call up fresh arms when injuries or short starts strain the bullpen. Vitello should award the closer’s job based on spring training performance, not past saves.

The Giants need a bullpen that can absorb rough starts, protect a developing rotation and give a young lineup room to grow. That requires more than waiting for injured pitchers to return. Reliable relief innings should be a core investment, not the last item on an offseason checklist.

Vitello's first season should inform these decisions, not end his tenure. If San Francisco commits to young hitters and gives him a deeper pitching staff, the Giants can judge this reset by what happens on the field in 2027.