The San Francisco Giants haven’t had much go their way this season, but one bright spot has been the rise of infielder Casey Schmitt—though he could be a trade candidate this offseason.
The team opened the year with Tyler Fitzgerald at second base, but his struggles sent him back to Triple-A for much of the season. In his place, Schmitt has stepped up, providing steady defense while posting a .239/.310/.399 line with 9 homers and 31 RBIs.
SF Giants may move on from Casey Schmitt despite solid year
His numbers have dipped recently as he’s cooled off at the plate, though earlier in the year his production was stronger. He’s done a lot well, but perhaps not enough for the Giants to fully commit to him as their everyday second baseman in 2026.
That’s why he feels like a potential trade candidate this offseason.
While Schmitt has shown flashes of power, he hasn’t established himself as a consistent contact hitter. He’s struck out 63 times in 243 at-bats — not awful, but given that president of baseball operations Buster Posey has emphasized the importance of putting the ball in play, it stands out.
The issue is that much of the projected 2026 lineup — Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, and possibly top prospect Bryce Eldridge — already features high strikeout totals and plenty of swing-and-miss.
On the flip side, Jung Hoo Lee provides consistent contact, and Luis Matos has shown he can put the ball in play, but with the offense’s inconsistency this year, the Giants may feel they need another reliable contact bat.
Luis Arraez, who’s expected to be available this offseason, fits that mold. He regularly posts high batting averages and rarely strikes out, but his only natural spot on the Giants would be second base. That would push Schmitt out of a starting role, and with Christian Koss available as a versatile backup infielder — similar to past Giants utility players — Schmitt could quickly become the odd man out.
In that case, the Giants might try to trade him while his value is up. They likely wouldn’t net a huge return, but if they pursue an upgrade at second base, there simply wouldn’t be a roster spot for him.
Overall, the Giants should be pleased with Schmitt’s contributions in 2025. Still, given the limited number of positions where upgrades are possible, he could be one of the players they move on from despite his solid showing as a San Diego State product.
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