What are SF Giants' options once Heliot Ramos returns from IL?
Amidst a tsunami of bad losses, bad news and bad vibes, the Giants received a morsel of good fortune when Heliot Ramos, who hasn't played in more than a month, began a rehab assignment. And while Ramos’ return will be a welcome one, it will bring its own complications.
Since Ramos last played on May 15, rookie Bryce Eldridge has gone from receiving inconsistent playing time to hitting in the two-hole, a mark of his budding status as a potential face of the franchise. To accommodate Eldridge in Ramos' absence, Casey Schmitt has become the Giants' full-time left fielder, a position he hadn't played since he was in high school.
There's no one neat-and-tidy solution available once Ramos, who has played four games with Triple-A Sacramento, returns. Perhaps as early as this week. Eldridge, Schmitt and Ramos are all everyday players, and difficult decisions are looming once Ramos comes off the shelf.
The closest thing to a straightforward move would be moving Jung Hoo Lee back to center field from right field and having Ramos and Schmitt play the corners. Ramos is more familiar with left field than right, but in this hypothetical, moving Ramos to right would make sense since Schmitt is still learning the nuances of the outfield.
The problem with this hypothetical is that it would come at the cost of outfield defense - the very thing that the Giants wanted to improve this offseason.
San Francisco moved Lee to right and signed Harrison Bader to a multi-year deal to improve its outfield defense, which ranked last in outs above average and 28th in defensive runs saved last year. Bader, though, is currently on the injured list with left plantar fasciitis and hasn't played since May 29, so the Giants could potentially roll with this configuration until Bader returns.
The Giants — who are 31-46 after being swept over the weekend by the Marlins, capped off by Rafael Devers waving away pinch runner Jonah Cox — could also use the impending roster logjam as an opportunity to start selling early.
Luis Arraez will, without question, be one of the most sought-after players at the deadline. Thanks to his defensive strides, Arraez has been one of the best players in baseball. Over 74 games, Arraez is hitting .320 while tied for fifth in the majors in outs above average (10).
Trading Arraez would open up second base for Schmitt, who has arguably been the team's most valuable player this year because of his defensive versatility. Along with playing five different positions this season, Schmitt is posting career-highs in batting average (.296), homers (16), RBIs (42), steals (seven) and OPS (.855) and making a case for his first All-Star selection.
An even bolder trade option than Arraez is Matt Chapman, whose name has circulated in rumors over the last week. Schmitt, of course, rose through the minors as a third baseman but has seldom played the position due to Chapman's presence.
Chapman, 33, is likely the most tradable of the Giants' big-money players. He's got four years and roughly $100 remaining on his deal after this season, but his excellent defense and steady bat should continue to provide value even as he enters his mid-30s.
High-powered offenses to face shaky pitching staffs in NorCal battle
The Giants and Athletics have two of the better offenses in baseball. Both teams also have two of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. Even with Oracle Park’s pitcher-friendly reputation, the Giants’ upcoming three-game series against the Athletics could be defined by offense.
Since May, the Giants and A’s rank second and third in OPS, respectively. San Francisco and the temporary inhabitants of West Sacramento, respectively, rank 26th and 29th in ERA during that same stretch, but the Athletics’ pitching staff isn’t helped by Sutter Health Park’s high-octane offensive environment.
The A’s recently hosted the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies at Las Vegas Ballpark, the home of their Triple-A affiliate, in anticipation of their move to Sin City.
During those six games, the A’s and their opponents averaged 17 runs and 3.3 home runs per game. On June 8, the Brewers defeated the A’s 15-14 in 12 innings on a night where hitters popped seven homers, some of which raised eyebrows because of the lackluster quality of contact.
The Giants’ upcoming series against the A’s will also mark the team’s first time playing at Oracle Park since the PrideNight controversy evolved into a national story, one that has come to involve multiple politicians and the United States Department of Justice.
Landen Roupp, one of three pitchers who wrote a Bible verse on the team’s Pride Night cap, is slated to start on Thursday afternoon. JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also wrote Bible verses on their caps that night, while Sam Hentges abstained from wearing the hat entirely.
Many fans have expressed their anger and disappointment in recent days, and all four pitchers will likely face vocal backlash when they take the mound during this homestand.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 12:53 PM.