What went wrong for the 2026 San Francisco Giants? And where do they go from here?

In 2026, the San Francisco Giants found themselves struggling to improve from their past four mediocre seasons. By the end of the disappointing campaign, they were projected to have the franchise's worst record since 2017, falling well behind perennial losers like the Colorado Rockies. Buster Posey, the team's president, made several bold moves in an attempt to restore the Giants' relevance, including extending Matt Chapman's contract, signing Willy Adames to a lucrative deal, and acquiring Rafael Devers from Boston in a mid-season trade.

However, the Giants' promotion of Tony Vitello to manage the team, despite his lack of professional experience, proved to be a significant misstep. The roster additions made during the offseason, such as Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, Luis Arraez, and Harrison Bader, failed to produce the desired impact, particularly with Bader's injury.

The offense struggled, scoring just one run in their first three games against the Yankees, while the pitching staff was unreliable from the outset. Late-game failures and the trade of key relievers further exacerbated the Giants' struggles. Overall, the combination of ineffective roster construction, coaching changes, and poor execution led to the franchise's worst record since 2017 and a season marred by dysfunction and disconnect.