Buster Posey banking on Willy Adames, Justin Verlander, Matt Chapman, Logan Webb to influence Giants culture

The San Francisco Giants are starting a new era in 2025 after appointing former catcher Buster Posey as their president of baseball operations at the end of last season.

The Giants have been active in the offseason, adding shortstop Willy Adames and three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander from the free-agent market. They also signed third baseman Matt Chapman and starting pitcher Logan Webb to long-term contract extensions over the past two seasons.

Posey said that the Giants have acquired these veteran superstars not only for their abilities on the field but also to create an identity within their clubhouse. He expects Adames, Verlander, Chapman and Webb to be the core leadership group in the dressing room and create a team spirit based on a strong work ethic and indomitable mentality.

In an interview with San Francisco-based sports journalist Tim Kawakami on The TK Show on Wednesday, Buster Posey gave thoughts on the veteran leadership group the Giants have assembled for the 2025 season (12:26 - 15:05).

"When you have leaders that act that way, Adames, Chapman. I don't know Jung-Hoo (Lee) that well; I only got to see him last year, but by all accounts, he's another one of those guys. The way he got hurt was because he was going too hard. And (with) Verlander, Webby, you get a core group of guys that's their way. That's their mentality," Posey said.

"It's hard for everybody else, even if it's not their first nature, to not follow along with that," he added. "I'm hopeful we can create that culture, that vibe. That when the San Francisco Giants are in town or when you come to play the San Francisco Giants, you're getting every bit of them, every single time that you play them."

The Giants signed Korean outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee to a six-year, $112 million contract last year. However, he only played 37 games after injuring his shoulder in May, which required a season-ending labrum surgery.

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"We feel really good about where our starting pitching is": Buster Posey

Buster Posey won three World Series titles as a player with the Giants. (Image Source: Imagn)

Buster Posey said that the San Francisco Giants are still looking to bring some more pieces into their roster before the start of spring training. He hopes that the Giants can bolster their offense but has ruled the team out from adding to their starting rotation.

"You're never going to say you're done. Most likely we're not going to add starting pitching. We feel really good about where our starting pitching is," Posey said. "We'll keep the door open to see what we can do offensively."

The Giants missed out on the playoffs in 2024 after ending the regular season with an 80-82 record to finish fourht in the National League West.