Nobody wants to research them, or read about them, so let’s just list the three games of the final road series of 2026,
• Friday, 7:15, Cesar Perdomo (0-1, 3.68) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 3.50), on AppleTV
• Saturday, 6:10, TBD vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.52 in blue)
• Sunday, 1:10, TBD vs. TBD
You-know-who is on the injured list, with knee and bicep problems from trying to pitch bullpens having spilled over to his hitting, and is ineligible to return in this series. Saturday would normally be Logan Webb’s turn, but there is much talk (wise talk) of letting his off-season begin early. Sunday’s game would extrapolate as Roupp and Yamamoto. Moving on…
The picture, once again, is Jonah Cox. He went 5-12 in the STL series, all singles, walked once, scored twice and drove in two. He stole three bases, to take the team lead at 13 in just 53 games, by passing Jung Hoo Lee who has 12 steals after playing in 140. The speed is so exciting, as routine infield ground balls may be hits, and the bunts are almost guaranteed! Speed also gives Cox enormous range in center field, where he seems to run good routes, so his occasional play at 2B to get him in the line up seems a bit peculiar. Third PotP of his young career, by the way.
When the season ends for non-playoff teams, the active, minor league, 10 & 15 day injured all coalesce into a single 40-man – only the 60-day remains separate. 5 days after the WS, the Giants must find a 40-man spot for anybody on the 60-day list they want to keep, since that category vanishes for all of the winter. In mid-November, the team must add any desirable minor leaguers with a few years of service time to the 40-man, or risk losing them to the R5 draft in early December. Bo Davidson and Jacob Bresnahan, in particular! Trades made 2 days or more after the WS ends or releasing players can create spots in what is presently a filled up 40-man.
Let’s noodle around. The first person I saw discussing the coming 60-day massacre was Grant Bisbee, back when that was only about a dozen, compared to the present 16. Bisbee said that he refused to list out who will be released, and I admire that. The Giants carried 17 position players and 23 pitchers at the end of the Winter Meetings last year, having picked up Daniel Susac in the R5 process. Let’s list 17 players, in alphabetical order, but divided the lists into a set making the roster next Opening Day, and who will be a reserve in Sacramento:
IF (7): Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Bryce Eldridge, Christian Koss, Casey Schmitt with reserve Marcelo Mayer
C (3): Drew Cavanaugh, Daniel Susac with reserve Jesus Rodriguez
OF (7): Victor Bericoto, Jonah Cox, Bo Davidson, Drew Gilbert, Jung Hoo Lee with reserves Scott Bandura and Turner Hill
That’s 17, and it counts out OK for 13 active, too: 6 IF, 2C, 5 OF. The list reflects my fondness for Koss’ grit, an admitted bias, but also an expectation that Mayer will be injured by mid-camp. And yes, we can dream, both no strike and Bo making the team out of camp! Feel free to argue in the comment section, or keep an 18th name!!
The 17 are chosen only from players presently in the organization, as it is impossible to anticipate trades. We’ll think about the 23 possible pitchers next week.
