On Monday, the San Francisco Giants officially became the third team mathematically eliminated from 2026 postseason contention, joining the lowly Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels. It’s a brutal reality check for a franchise now on pace to finish with its worst record since 2017, a far cry from the National League contender status they desperately hoped for.
Buster Posey’s Big Swings Missed Big Time
San Francisco entered 2026 yearning to launch out of four consecutive years of hovering at or near .500. Instead, they plummeted, finding themselves closer in the standings to perennial losers like the Rockies than their downstate rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Giants president Buster Posey has been pulling out all the stops since taking over baseball operations in late 2024. Before officially starting, he was reportedly directly involved in extending third baseman Matt Chapman for a massive six-year, $151 million deal. Then, in his first offseason, Posey made a huge splash, signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract to pair with Chapman. Remember that strong start in 2025? They were tied with the Dodgers atop the NL West at 41-29 on June 13. That emboldened Posey to make another stunning move, acquiring star slugger Rafael Devers from Boston in one of the most surprising midseason trades we have seen in ages. But the team sputtered hard after that promising start, finishing at a frustratingly familiar 81-81, missing the final NL playoff spot by a couple of games behind the Cincinnati Reds.
From College Stardom To Pro Disaster
Another round of shake-ups was inevitable after the 2025 season. Out went veteran skipper Bob Melvin after just two years. In came the audacious Tony Vitello, a brilliant track record from the University of Tennessee, but absolutely zero professional experience. It was an ambitious, unprecedented hire, meant to jolt a franchise desperate for something new. Modest roster additions followed that winter,Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, Luis Arraez, Harrison Bader,but everyone knew the Vitello hire and the coaching staff revamp were the real big bets. Optimism was plentiful in pre-season workouts this year, with Vitello’s unwavering energy setting a hopeful tone. But man, once the season started, the flaws in Posey’s roster were exposed in a hurry. The Giants scored just *one run* in their opening three-game series against the Yankees. That set an ominous tone, and the offense has scuffled to a startling degree ever since. They only hit three home runs across their first 13 home games. Just three!
The Giants are on a trajectory for their worst finish in nearly a decade, and with less than three weeks remaining in this disjointed and disappointing campaign, there is not much left for San Francisco fans to cling to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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