How Giants’ spring training position battles are shaping up as camp nears end

SCOTTSDALE — The Giants are 14-3 this spring, which is a 133-win pace over 162 games. It’s the best record for any big league team, and they’re 2 1/2 games clear of the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the Cactus League standings. If you need a reminder that the record is mostly meaningless, though, all you have to do is go back a year. They went 21-6 last spring, winning the Cactus League “title” by 3 1/2 games and nearly doubling the next best run differential. That was followed by 81-81 and the firing of their manager. The new man in charge, Tony Vitello, has not gotten caught up in all the winning over the past three weeks. His go-to line is that you’d rather win than lose anytime you’re doing something competitive, but he knows that most of the lineups the Giants have seen this spring, especially at home, have been a far cry from what they’ll face for six months. Vitello has stayed focused on the day-to-day tasks at Scottsdale Stadium, with every day starting with several meetings. In many of them, the coaches and members of the front office discuss the makeup of the Opening Day roster, and that’s where that 14-3 mark might actually have some meaning. Many of the players contributing every day are fighting for everyday jobs, and they have put their best efforts on paper and film. The Giants have 12 players with double-digit spring at-bats and an OPS over .900. Six of the 12 players with at least four appearances have an ERA under 2.00. The staff is happy with the depth, but in two weeks, it will have to be cut down to a 26-man roster. Here’s a look at where some of the battles stand as players get closer to packing up … The CatchersDaniel Susac was the frontrunner coming into camp given his Rule 5 status, and nothing has happened to indicate the Giants will give up on that December decision and send him back to the Athletics. That would be burning about a quarter-million when you add up the Rule 5 cost and the signing bonus given to the prospect they traded for Susac.Veteran Eric Haase appears to be next in line, and the staff likes him. Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the Camilo Doval trade last summer, has moved around quite a bit this spring and is 8-for-22 at the plate. The versatility is fascinating and should make him a big leaguer at some point in 2026. Former top prospect Diego Cartaya has just four at-bats. The InfieldThis section could actually just be labeled The Bryce Question.The single biggest decision the staff needs to make this spring is with 21-year-old Bryce Eldridge, who has limited Triple-A time, needs defensive reps, and could return to Sacramento for the start of the season.Eldridge has a .968 OPS this spring, and as always, it has been loud. He smoked a ball at 112 mph against Paul Skenes last week but found Byron Buxton’s glove in center field; a day later, he hit a 113-mph double into the gap off a lefty, and a couple of days after that he had a 109-mph triple in another left-on-left matchup. He also has 11 strikeouts in 27 at-bats.Eldridge leads the team in plate appearances, which isn’t surprising. The staff is going to get every piece of data possible, and it’s likely this decision won’t come until the Giants return home and play two exhibition games before facing the New York Yankees. Right now, it really appears to be a coin flip. The Eldridge decision will be fascinating, and there will be a cascading effect. If they keep him as a DH/1B and go with two backup infielders — almost certainly Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss, who appears to have as many fans on this staff as the previous one — there’s only room for one outfielder. The OutfieldIf the Giants keep Eldridge, Schmitt and Koss and go with the traditional 13 position players, they’ll have just one bench spot available (the other would go to their backup catcher). That would be for an outfielder, and there are a ton of candidates. Drew Gilbert was the semi-incumbent at the end of last season, but a shoulder injury has sidelined him for most of March. Assuming the Giants want a lefty for this spot — Susac, Schmitt and Koss are all right-handed — they would still have a couple of options. Will Brennan has 269 games of experience with the Cleveland Guardians and has shown a well-rounded game this spring. Grant McCray has been a standout. The quality of his plate appearances has vastly improved, and after piling up strikeouts in his previous MLB opportunities, he’s tied for the team lead with six walks while whiffing just four times. Vitello said he’s seeing a “more balanced approach” from McCray, who would provide above-average defense at all three spots while giving the new manager a needed pinch-running option late in games. “Our ballpark is going to lend itself to a lot of games that are played tight, so if you’ve got a guy that can steal a base or maybe cover a ball in the gap or just fight your way on base, it can be an edge,” Vitello said last week. “When you compare him to the other guys on the roster, it is a little bit unique.”While Gilbert, Brennan and McCray all have minor league options, two guys who hit from the other side are running out of time. Luis Matos and Jerar Encarnación would have to go through waivers if they do not make the initial roster. Matos would surely get claimed, and he’s having a very strong spring at the plate. Encarnación was an offseason frontrunner for a job; he got off to an extremely slow start but has picked it up in recent days. If the Giants option Eldridge, they could try to carry both players early on and then sneak them through once 29 other rosters are set. But if Eldridge makes the team, it’s hard to see how there’s a spot for Encarnación. It would also be a bit of a stretch to then carry Matos, but given that he’s just 24, the Giants might be willing to go with a less versatile bench early on.The RotationThe main question here is how the Giants will line up behind Logan Webb, who is currently off at the WBC. The Giants are happy with the early velocity shown by newcomers Adrian Houser (up to 96 mph against Team USA last week) and Tyler Mahle (up to 94 in his last start), but Landen Roupp, the youngest one in the room, has looked like the third-best starter behind Webb and Robbie Ray. That’s not a knock on the others; it’s a reason for excitement. The other question is whether the Giants will take advantage of being off on the second and fifth days of the season. They could slide a starter to the bullpen for extra coverage that first weekend or use some creative accounting to open up a roster spot for one of the position players who is out of options. Vitello said it has all been discussed. The BullpenThis is where the good vibes start to dissipate, and it remains the biggest area of concern for the front office. Right-hander Joel Peguero will miss the start of the season with a hamstring strain, lefty Reiver Sanmartin has a hip injury and is out three months, and Erik Miller (back tightness) and Sam Hentges (shoulder surgery rehab) have yet to pitch in games. Given that Hentges is likely to miss Opening Day, the Giants desperately need Miller back in game action soon. They’re so short from the left side that they brought Joey Lucchesi back this week. There are a lot more answers from the right side of the pen, but it may take some time to sort out which guys — other than Ryan Walker — become late-innings arms. Non-roster invitees Gregory Santos and Caleb Kilian have impressed and Trevor McDonald is doing all he can to make the initial roster. Hard-throwing right-hander Blade Tidwell has been a bit more inconsistent, but when he’s right, his slider is unhittable and he looks like a potential closer. Hayden Birdsong also looks like a closer when right, but the Giants haven’t given up on him as a starter. Keaton Winn is further down the road to full-time bullpen work, and he has impressed. The Giants are confident they will find the right mix eventually given the talent in the room and the faith they have in the new pitching coaches. But the early trial-and-error might cost them a few close games. Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

How Giants’ spring training position battles are shaping up as camp nears end

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