5 bold predictions that could define the Giants’ 2025 season ft. Willy Adames hitting career-high 40 home runs

The San Francisco Giants spent a lot in the 2024 offseason only to end up struggling to a record around .500. They arguably play in the most top-heavy division, but they've continued to spend in 2025 to make sure they get better. Here are five bold predictions about whether or not they will.

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Bold predictions for the 2025 Giants

5) Patrick Bailey will win a Platinum Glove

Patrick Bailey will win a Platinum Glove (Imagn)

Patrick Bailey had one of the most surprising seasons in baseball last year. He had 4.7 fWAR, second-most on the team and among the top players in the NL. He did this despite having a below-average 81 wRC+.

His defense is that good, so it's not far-fetched to say he can be the best defender regardless of position in the National League. Expect a Platinum Glove for Bailey.

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4) Matt Chapman will be an MVP finalist

Matt Chapman will be an MVP finalist (Imagn)

Matt Chapman is one of the most unheralded superstars in baseball. The third baseman's defensive prowess overshadows his offensive skill, but he's one of the best all-around players in the entire sport.

He had 5.5 fWAR last year, and it's not a stretch to say that ideal conditions could lead to 7.0 or more this year. He'll have to contend with Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuna Jr., and more, but he has the talent to be named alongside them for the MVP award.

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3) Justin Verlander will get demoted to the bullpen

Justin Verlander will get demoted (Imagn)

The Giants clearly want to win. That's why they signed Justin Verlander in the first place. However, he's getting older and coming off one of the worst years of his career. He is moving into a more pitcher-friendly park, but he may still struggle.

The Giants have a surplus of starters right now, and when Verlander struggles mightily, the Giants will have no choice but to swap him out. Most of the nine pitchers listed as starters will move to the pen, and one of them will come out in a few months when Verlander has a hard time performing.

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2) Willy Adames will crush a career-high 40 home runs

Willy Adames will hit 40 home runs (Imagn)

Willy Adames had his best power season last year with 32 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers. He parlayed his fantastic season into a $182 million contract with San Francisco, where he should continue to play well.

Oracle Park would've resulted in a 31-homer season last year for Adames, so it's not as if there's going to be a huge drop-off in offensive production. If Adames can continue to get better, 40 is certainly within reach.

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1) The Giants will make the Wild Card

The Giants will make the Wild Card (Imagn)

The NL is stacked with teams. It's so deep that last year, a team that went to the World Series in 2023 won five more games and still missed the playoffs. The Giants likely need to add at least nine wins to their 2025 total to make that happen.

They're better this year, though, and they will have a full season of Jung Hoo Lee. It should result in a better year, and with a little bit of luck, the Giants should be able to sneak in and give the NL West three playoff teams.