SF Giants pre-spring training roster projection: How they get from 65 to 26

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Over the next six weeks, the 65 San Francisco Giants in major-league camp will be whittled down to 26.

With pitchers and catchers set for their first workout Wednesday, let’s take a first crack at how the roster will shape up by Opening Day.

Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey (S), Tom Murphy

Remember last year’s four-man catching competition that lasted all spring?

It’s a good bet that Blake Sabol is the only contestant who remains in the organization by the following Opening Day, though with a full set of options the former Rule 5 pick will likely start the season with Triple-A Sacramento.

Joey Bart is still around, but as the No. 3 backstop at best without any minor-league options left, the former No. 2 overall pick seems destined to be traded by the end of camp, when he must either be added to the active roster or placed on waivers.

Bart’s fate was seemingly sealed when the Giants brought in Murphy as a veteran backup to Bailey, who is going to be expected to catch five days a week in his first full major-league season after introducing himself as one of the top defensive backstops in the game last year.

Infielders (6): J.D. Davis, Thairo Estrada, Wilmer Flores, Otto Lopez, Marco Luciano, LaMonte Wade Jr. (L)

In all likelihood, the Giants will field an Opening Day roster without Brandon Crawford for the first time since 2011.

The shortstop job has been earmarked for Luciano, 22, arguably the club’s most anticipated hitting prospect since Buster Posey.

All offseason, the Giants have dropped subtle and not-so-subtle signs that they weren’t enamored with Davis as Luciano’s partner on the left side of the diamond. He was their only arbitration-eligible player to go to trial — winning and earning himself a $6.9 million salary — a practice the club typically tries to avoid by settling contracts ahead of time.

Playing a career-high 144 games last season, Davis wasn’t the only player to fade in the second half. But his struggles down the stretch were illuminated when Zaidi noted early this offseason that “some of our players who were in All-Star consideration in the first half of the season really struggled” and emphasizing the importance of athleticism and defense in their offseason pursuits.

Four months later, free agent third baseman Matt Chapman makes just as much sense as he did then.

One of the biggest position battles in camp will be for the final bench spot, in which Lopez has the upper hand for now. The 25-year-old utility man was acquired from Toronto this week, though he’ll have to beat out in-house candidates Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald.

Outfielders (5): Michael Conforto (L), Jung Hoo Lee (L), Austin Slater, Jorge Soler, Mike Yastrzemski (L)

Another young player, Luis Matos, was shaping up to be one of three starting outfielders — until the team signed Soler this week.

The 22-year-old Venezuelan could still earn the starting job in left — next to Lee in center and the Slater/Yastrzemski platoon in right — but it would likely require to trade Conforto, who was pushed back into the outfield when the team inked Soler to be their designated hitter.

Between Soler’s batting practice sessions and Lee’s introduction to the majors, this group should be among the most intriguing all spring.

Starting pitchers (5): Tristan Beck, Kyle Harrison (L), Jordan Hicks, Logan Webb, Keaton Winn

Career innings pitched as a starter in the major leagues:

— Webb: 644

— The others: 98 ⅓

Fortunately, more proven reinforcements are due back by the second half in Alex Cobb (hip) and Robbie Ray (elbow).

Relief pitchers (8): Camilo Doval, Amir Garrett (L), Sean Hjelle, Luke Jackson, Erik Miller (L), Taylor Rogers (L), Tyler Rogers, Ryan Walker

Due to Walker’s frequent usage as an opener last season, this group started nearly as many games in 2023 (13) as the back four of the projected rotation (15).

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The Giants set a National League record last season, using openers in 34 games, but that is expected to be significantly dialed back under new manager Bob Melvin and pitching coach Bryan Price.

If their starting pitchers can routinely go six innings and hand off a lead, it should be well protected with Walker, Jackson and the Rogers twins all providing capable late-inning bridges to Doval, who finished (60) and saved (39) the most games in the National League last season.

Up for grabs is the long reliever role, for which Hjelle could be challenged by Kai-Wei Teng, Daulton Jefferies or Tommy Romero, a trio of non-roster invitees to camp. Adding Miller to the 40-man roster this offseason put him on the fast track as the second southpaw, though Garrett and Ethan Small — both acquired this month — could both factor in this season.