'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The San Francisco Giants haven't had a powerful presence in the middle of their lineup in a very long time. They didn't last year, and a lackluster offense didn't help them compete in arguably the deepest division in baseball. The cleanup spot is one they should be interested in upgrading this year.
The Giants could go internal for this and put Willy Adames, their premier free-agent signing this year, or Matt Chapman in the four-hole. However, Chapman is probably better suited in the five-hole, while Adames should bat higher than fourth.
Who the Giants can look to to bat cleanup in 2025
5) JD Martinez
JD Martinez could be an underrated addition this year. While he is old (37 years), he proved in 2024 that he can still hit. He has plenty of experience hitting in the middle of all sorts of lineups, making him a great fit in San Francisco.
Trending
He's still available, so he'd probably be pretty cheap. The Giants don't mind spending, but saving money here opens them up to pursue another star to add to their roster.
4) Alex Bregman
Alex Bregman has batted all over the place in his career. He would be an excellent cleanup hitter in San Francisco. He's perfectly capable of hitting plenty of home runs and driving in other runners that get on base ahead of him.
His production would've likely stayed mostly the same in Oracle Park vs. Minute Maid Park, so there's no reason to think Bregman couldn't hit well enough to justify a cleanup spot in the Giants' order.
3) Luis Robert Jr.
The Giants currently don't have anyone in the outfield who has a higher upside than Luis Robert Jr. The Chicago White Sox star had a down year last year, but he hit 38 home runs in 2023.
His price is lower now, and the White Sox are probably not sold on keeping anyone in the building after a 121-loss season. That makes Robert a great choice for the Giants to pursue, and he clearly has the bat to hit fourth.
2) Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso is the perfect middle-of-the-order bat. He's a player who largely hits home runs and not much else. That is the stereotypical cleanup hitter, and he's a player the Giants could desperately use. They haven't had a 30-homer hitter in a very long time.
Lamonte Wade Jr. is a fine first baseman, but he probably wouldn't stand in the way of an Alonso signing. If nothing else, they could use the DH spot to rotate players around with Alonso in the lineup.
1) Anthony Santander
Anthony Santander may be the most realistic option for the cleanup spot in San Francisco. His 44 home runs were the most by any free agent this year (including Juan Soto), and he's been one of the strongest switch hitters in baseball for the last few years.
Santander can hit from the left side, making his power stroke perfect for launching balls into McCovey Bay. That kind of player is the ideal fit for the Giants, and he's an excellent cleanup hitter.
