Projecting the San Francisco Giants 2024 Opening Day roster

Mar 4, 2024, 10:01 AM | Updated: 10:06 am

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Marco Luciano #37 of the San Francisco Giants poses during photo...

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Following the signing of Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman over the weekend, the heavy lifting appears to be over for the San Francisco Giants.

“I’ll say what I said last time we talked after we signed [Jorge] Soler–the offseason is really over as far as we’re concerned,” Giants president Farhan Zaidi said on a Zoom call with reporters on Sunday. “We’re more in in-season mode, which doesn’t mean you can’t make additions, but it’s a different dynamic because we’re really focused on the players that we have and how they’re all going to fit together.”

It’s been a busy offseason for Zaidi and company, as San Francisco has a new-look lineup that will be headed by new center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, slugging All-Star designated hitter Jorge Soler, and Chapman, who is reunited with former Oakland A’s manager and first-year Giants skipper Bob Melvin.

With Spring Training fully underway and Opening Day just over three weeks away, let’s look ahead to what the roster could look like when San Francisco takes the field on March 28th in San Diego.

Here it is: Jung Hoo Lee’s first home run in an #SFGiants uniform

이정후 🤩 pic.twitter.com/rUdtLhGzlM

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) February 29, 2024

Projected 2024 San Francisco Giants Opening Day Roster

Projections per FanGraphs’ Roster Resource

Starting Lineup

CF – Jung Hoo Lee (L)

2B – Thairo Estrada (R)

1B – LaMonte Wade Jr. (L)

DH – Jorge Soler (R)

LF – Michael Conforto (L)

3B – Matt Chapman (R)

RF – Mike Yastrzemski (L)

C – Patrick Bailey (S)

SS – Marco Luciano (R)

The Giants have a healthy balance of right and left-handed hitters in its lineup, including a high-contact bat at the top of the order in Lee, followed by thumpers like Soler, Conforto, and Chapman, who all hit 15+ home runs in 2023.

Luciano, San Francisco’s number-two prospect (39th on MLB’s top-100 prospect list for 2024), is in line to begin the season as the franchise’s first everyday shortstop following Brandon Crawford’s exit to St. Louis.

Bench

C – Tom Murphy (R)

3B/1B/OF – J.D. Davis (R)

INF – Wilmer Flores (R)

OF – Austin Slater (R)

Two starters from last year’s roster–Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis–find themselves outside the projected Opening Day lineup, but the two players will likely be used in platoon splits with left-handed hitters in the lineup.

Flores will split first-base duties with Wade at first base and fill in at third base to spell Chapman, while Davis’ future isn’t as clear.

San Francisco could look to trade Davis and his $6.9 million contract, something that the 30-year-old alluded to following the news of Chapman’s signing. If Davis sticks around, he can play all around the field–first, third, and the corner outfield spots.

JD Davis said he didn’t get a call from the front office before the Matt Chapman signing news broke. He found out after watching Dune 2 last night.

Way he sees it, he gets traded, plays third and Chapman plays SS or he sticks as a reserve.

“I don’t know what the game plan is.…

— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) March 2, 2024

Starting Rotation

Logan Webb – (R)

Kyle Harrison – (L)

Jordan Hicks (R)

Keaton Winn (R)

Sean Hjelle (R)

The Giants’ rotation currently looks incomplete due to injuries, as Alex Cobb (hip), Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery), and Tristan Beck (upper arm aneurism) will be on the injured list come Opening Day.

While those on the mend work their way back, reigning Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb will look to build off of his impressive 2023 campaign (3.25 ERA, 194 SO), while rookie left-hander and top Giants prospect Kyle Harrison will begin his first full season as a big leaguer.

Uncertainty follows up the top two spots in the rotation, as San Francisco will look to turn recently-signed hard-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks into a starter for the first time in his MLB career.

Bullpen

Mason Black – (R)

Erik Miller – (L)

Ethan Small – (L)

Ryan Walker – (R)

Luke Jackson (R)

Taylor Rodgers (L)

Tyler Rodgers (R)

Camilo Doval (R)

Tough Cuts

Since the Giants brought in three new pieces (Chapman, Soler, Lee), a few players deserving of a big-league roster spot could begin the season in AAA Sacramento.

Luis Matos has been impressive this spring as the outfielder holds a .333 batting average to go along with three home runs and five RBI during Spring Trainig action. Matos could benefit from everyday reps in AAA instead of starting the season on the bench in San Francisco, while fellow outfielder Heliot Ramos and catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol could also join Matos with the River Cats.

The Giants have several players waiting in the wings if the injury bug bites, which speaks to the depth they have accumulated during a busy offseason.