Right Field is, by far, the most unsettled position on the Giants roster going into the Hot Stove League. If you go back and look at posts from last offseason and 2024 season previews I believe I said one of Buster Posey's big tasks was to sort out the logjam of young outfielders on the roster. Welp, that didn't happen and now that annoying and potentially crippling problem is hanging around like a bad intertrigo rash with no clear presumptive starter and no obvious ranking on the depth chart.
MLB(in no particular order):
Jerar Encarncacion: It feels like Encarnacion is the guy the Giants wanted to step up and take the position. Unfortunately he never got that chance due to a series of muscle strain injuries. There is a righthanded platoon/bat off the bench roster spot there for the taking. Do the Giants believe in him enough to roll with him again? Tremendous power potential. Great throwing arm. Limited range in the OF. Out of options.
Drew Gilbert: The way Oracle Park is configured, a RF who throws left has an angle advantage in tracking down those long R-CF gappers. Think Gregor Blanco saving Matt Cain's perfect game. I don't think a righthanded fielder gets to that ball. Gilbert is the only OF on the roster who throws left. Has 3 options.
Luis Matos: We've already endlessly talked about his ups and downs. Out of options. If Buster doesn't go outside the organization to fill this gaping hole in the roster/lineup, I would like to see Matos get one more shot at 200 PA's before the Giants DFA him.
Grant McCray: To my eye, McCray has the loudest tools in the logjam and therefore the highest ceiling. He also has 2 options to work on bringing down that K rate in AAA.
AAA:
None
AA:
Victor Bericoto: Bericoto is a good righthanded hitter. His toolset probably profiles better in LF but he's played mostly RF and 1B in the minors.
Bo Davidson: Davidson is developing as a CF but could cover Triples Alley from RF and looks like he may hit well enough for a corner OF.
Carter Howell: Very disappointing season at the plate for Carter Howell. The Eastern League curse got him.
A+:
Jakob Christian: Tall, athletic player with nice hit/power combination.
A:
Cam Maldonado: Physical size profiles as a corner OF. Modest start to pro career in 71 PA but walked at a 15.5% clip and stole 5 bases.
Carlos Gutierrez: Was having a breakout season for San Jose when it was cut short by injury.
ACL:
Rayner Arias: Arias development has suffered from a series of injuries. Needs to find some traction in 2026.
Oliver Tejada: Modest age 18 numbers in the ACL after a very promising start to his pro career in the DSL. Will likely repeat the ACL in 2026 and look to dominate.
DSL:
Carlos Concepcion: Taking 3 seasons to get out of the DSL is generally not a good sign for a prospect but put up nice numbers in his age 19 season including 6 HR.
Comment: Right field was a hot mess in 2025. Buster found himself in a situation of looming free agency for Mike Yastrzemski, who was in one of his brutal slumps, and in sell mode at the trade deadline but without any obvious replacement. None emerged in the final 2 months of the season. If anything the depth chart became more muddled. If Buster feels he needs more certainty from the position he's going to have to bring in a player through free agency or trade. If he feels he doesn't have the resources to do that, my opinion is give Luis Matos one more shot of at least 200 PA's and see if he can reprise what Heliot Ramos did in 2024.
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