SF Giants CEO Defends Lack of Offseason Spending

Baer says team is focused on player development, but fans question commitment to winning.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:21pm by

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In a radio interview, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer defended the team's quiet offseason and lack of spending, saying the focus is on developing players from within the organization. However, the Giants' slow start and reliance on journeyman veterans over top prospects has fans questioning the team's commitment to fielding a competitive roster.

Why it matters

The Giants' offseason decisions have come under scrutiny as the team struggles out of the gate, ranking last in the NL West. Fans are frustrated by the team's reluctance to spend big on free agents or make bold moves to improve the roster, especially compared to their rivals like the Dodgers.

The details

Baer told KNBR radio that the team is not restricted by budget, but wants to develop players from within the system to complement the players they have already invested in, like Rafi Devers. However, the Giants have struggled to develop talent in recent years, and this offseason opted to keep veteran minor leaguers over top prospect Luis Matos. Only three of the team's nine everyday players were developed through the Giants' system.

  • The Giants' slow 3-16 start through the first 19 games of the season.
  • In a March interview, Giants chairman Greg Johnson hinted at the team's offseason strategy, saying they were 'opportunistic' with the players available.

The players

Larry Baer

President and CEO of the San Francisco Giants.

Tony Vitello

Manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Buster Posey

President of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants.

Zack Minasian

General manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Rafael Devers

Star player for the San Francisco Giants who the team signed to a contract last year.

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What they’re saying

“There's no restriction. There's no, 'Here's your budget, you can't go a penny over this.' That's not out there. But the players that are going to help us may not be out there. You've got to develop inside the organization. That's not a money thing; that's a development thing.”

— Larry Baer, President and CEO, San Francisco Giants

“We were opportunistic. We could have been higher, but we felt like with the players that were available, we made the right decisions.”

— Greg Johnson, Chairman, San Francisco Giants

“We are committed to putting an absolute top-flight product on the field. It hasn't happened so far this season, we get it. We are committed to doing it. We're committed to making the changes, spending the money, doing whatever we need to do to do it. That is our focus.”

— Larry Baer, President and CEO, San Francisco Giants

What’s next

The Giants' struggles have put increased pressure on the front office to make roster moves and spending decisions to improve the team. Fans will be watching closely to see if the team follows through on Baer's promise to 'spend the money' and make changes to field a more competitive team.

The takeaway

The Giants' offseason strategy of relying on player development over free agent spending has backfired so far, leaving fans frustrated with the team's poor start and lack of urgency to address the roster's weaknesses. The team's commitment to winning will be tested as the season progresses.