Giants chairman Greg Johnson mentioned a number of matters in an interview with John Shea of the San Francisco Customary, together with some speak about how the group plans to spend this winter. As typical with any upper-level govt, Johnson spoke in generalities about payroll reasonably than citing any particular figures, and downplayed the concept of any big spending splashes. For example, whereas Johnson cited “beginning pitching assist” as “in all probability No. 1 on the listing” of offseason priorities, he mentioned the Giants would “be very cautious about” signing a pitcher to a nine-figure contract.
As as to whether or not the Giants would exceed the $244MM luxurious tax restrict or not, “it simply depends upon what’s on the market. We could also be over. We could also be below,” Johnson mentioned. “We’re going to take a look at every state of affairs and make the choice and see the way it matches into not solely subsequent yr, however the longer-term plans.”
San Francisco has exceeded the Aggressive Stability Tax line 4 instances of their historical past. They paid the tax in every of the 2015-17 seasons, as a operate of the rising prices related to making an attempt to maintain their championship core from the early 10’s groups collectively. The membership additionally narrowly exceeded the tax line in 2024, as a operate of the Giants making a sequence of dear acquisitions through the 2023-24 offseason.
In 2025, the Giants ducked again below the tax line, even after some extra distinguished strikes — i.e. extending Matt Chapman, signing Willy Adames to a seven-year/$182MM free agent deal, and their June commerce for Rafael Devers. Even with these salaries concerned plus main commitments to Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee, and Robbie Ray, San Francisco’s books are comparatively clear since nearly the entire group’s cash is tied into simply these six gamers. Ray can also be a free agent subsequent winter, leaving more room open for longer-term commitments though Johnson is cautious of such contracts.
“We will go up [in spending], however I feel the chance is having too many individuals on comparable six-year-type offers that create much less flexibility to the payroll,” Johnson mentioned. “I feel you may at all times do issues on a shorter foundation, however you’ve bought to watch out about having too lots of your gamers being late 30s at a high-payroll stage. I feel you must steadiness that.”
San Francisco followers could not love listening to about possession’s monetary warning, but just about any proprietor or entrance workplace govt would share Johnson’s considerations on overspending now on gamers who may quickly be future albatrosses. This was, the truth is, the very state of affairs the Giants discovered themselves in throughout their earlier taxpayor years, as soon as among the key gamers from their World Collection groups began to say no.
There’s additionally the truth that the Giants are far sufficient below the $244MM tax line that there’s room for the group to spend reasonably considerably this winter whereas nonetheless remaining below the brink. Cot’s Baseball Contracts estimates the Giants at roughly a $152.7MM payroll and a $182MM tax determine for 2026, whereas RosterResource’s estimates are a bit increased ($169.3MM payroll and a $192.4MM tax quantity).
Whichever estimate you favor, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey figures to have monetary flexibility in pursuing extra big-ticket targets this winter. Upgrading the pitching employees (to not point out the group’s different wants) possible gained’t come low cost, and with only one successful file of their final 9 seasons, the Giants determine to once more be very energetic in making an attempt to get again into rivalry.
