Justin Verlander is always going to have a place on an MLB roster until it becomes very clear that he can no longer pitch at a big-league level. Heading into the 2025 season, it was the San Francisco Giants that gave Verlander a shot in free agency, signing him to a one-year, $15 million deal to bolster their rotation amid their ongoing bid to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for NL West supremacy. Verlander, who is 42 years of age, is no longer the starting pitcher he once was.

The San Francisco Giants have one of the better starting catchers in the MLB in Patrick Bailey. Buster Posey and the front office should take a chance on a former All-Star still looking for a team. James McCann is still a free agent after spending the last two season backing up Adley Rutschman for the Baltimore Orioles. In his 11-year career, McCann has slashed .241/.293/.380 with 92 home runs, 373 RBI and he has been worth 8.1 Wins Above Replacement.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has gone deep for the first time this spring training. Lee belted a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starter Chase Dollander in the bottom of the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has gone deep for the first time this spring training. Lee belted a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starter Chase Dollander in the bottom of the first inning at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday (local time).

Verlander's first start of the spring came four days after the three-time Cy Young Award winner's 42nd birthday.

On the cusp of his 20th major-league season, there isn't much that Justin Verlander hasn't experienced at this point in his career. For all his experience, his start on Monday afternoon represented a rare first: pitching in the Cactus League. “I was told not to overly concern myself with pitch shapes here and the movement of the ball because it's tough,” Verlander said. Verlander, wearing his familiar No. 35, tossed two innings against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium in his first ever spring training start under the Arizona sunshine, allowing one run on a solo homer across two innings.

February 24 - San Francisco Giants backup catcher Tom Murphy is in danger of missing Opening Day with a herniated disc in his back that required an epidural injection. Murphy, 33, is expected to miss multiple weeks, with the Giants' season opener set for March 27 at Cincinnati. Murphy played in just 13 games last season, collecting four hits in 34 at-bats. In nine major league seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2015-18), Seattle Mariners (2019, 2021-23) and Giants, he is a career .239 hitter with 49 home runs and 128 RBIs. The Giants have catchers Max Stassi and Sam Huff in camp behind starter Patrick Bailey. Adrian Sugastey was given a non-roster invitation to major league camp. --Field Level

There's a definite possibility that Tom Murphy won’t be ready for opening day March 27 at Cincinnati.

When the San Francisco Giants line up on Great American Ballpark's third-base line on March 27, Tom Murphy likely won't be among the 26 players in uniform. The Giants announced on Monday morning that Murphy (mid-back disk herniation) will receive an epidural injection and be re-evaluated in the next few weeks. Manager Bob Melvin told reporters it's not completely certain that Murphy, who received a second opinion on Sunday, won't be ready for Opening Day but said there's a “definite possibility” that Murphy starts the season on the injured list.

Shortly after his playing career ended, Jerry Dipoto took in a game at Wrigley Field with former big league manager Jim Fregosi. After a particularly nasty strikeout by Eric Gagne, Dipoto laughed. Fregosi promptly slapped Dipoto on the back of his head.

Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander is wasting no time settling into his new environment with the San Francisco Giants. The veteran right-hander, who recently celebrated his 42nd birthday, is already making an impact both on and off the field. From laser tag outings with teammates to an impressive bullpen session, Verlander is proving that age is just a number as he enters his 20th MLB season. The Giants' new ace received a hilarious birthday surprise orchestrated by Matt Chapman, who rolled Verlander out in a wheelchair as teammates and rookies with less than one year of service time sang “Happy Birthday.”

As spring training rolls on for the San Francisco Giants, the team will be trying to get better as the season progresses. Adding Adames does help in that area, but this is still a batting order that doesn't look all that daunting on paper. San Francisco hasn't had a player hit 30 home runs since Barry Bonds accomplished it in 2004. The hope is that their new shortstop will be able to reach that plateau, but Oracle Park is not an easy place to hit home runs and Adames could see a slight dip in power playing 81 games there.

Logan Webb knew he'd be the San Francisco Giants' Opening Day starter long before his first Cactus League start. For Webb, spring training at this point in his career is less about performance and more about preparation. Webb tossed two perfect innings with a strikeout as the Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium, but more than the results, the true intrigue of the right-hander's first start of spring training lies in his footwork.

The Cincinnati Reds will play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Goodyear, Ariz. on Monday.

Justin Verlander appears to be fitting in quite well with the Giants. The San Francisco Chronicle's Shayna Rubin reported Friday that Verlander and approximately 20 of his teammates celebrated his birthday with a laser tag outing earlier this week.

Justin Verlander appears to be fitting in quite well with the Giants. The San Francisco Chronicle's Shayna Rubin reported Friday that Verlander and approximately 20 of his teammates celebrated his birthday with a laser tag outing earlier this week.

The San Francisco Giants have only played one Cactus League game but the ailments are already adding up. Manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Sunday morning that left fielder Heliot Ramos is dealing with a minor oblique injury that will keep him out for roughly a week. Ramos, who missed several months with a right oblique strain in 2023, will be shut down completely for the time being. Backup catcher Tom Murphy has also been dealing with an oblique injury for about a week and will receive a second opinion on the injury.

From the pinstripes of New York all the way to the Dodger blues of Los Angeles, there is a strong connection among the clubhouse staffers who wash the dirt-caked, hard-worn uniforms of the major leagues. “The clubhouse community is really close,” says Riley Halpin, 29, a clubhouse attendant for the San Francisco Giants. “There's not a guy in the league I don't think that I can't call with a laundry question that won't answer it,” says Kiere Bulls, a home clubhouse manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For a moment on Saturday morning, it looked like the first spring training game of the Giants season might be delayed by reunions. Bruce Bochy walked out onto the field and immediately saw Bob Melvin, and while the two chatted, a steady stream of Giants came out of the dugout to see the four-time World Series champion. There was Pat Burrell and Ron Wotus, and then Triple-A manager Dave Brundage and longtime trainer Anthony Reyes. On and on it went, and the crowd got bigger when Texas Rangers hitting coaches Donnie Ecker and Justin Viele walked over.

For a moment on Saturday morning, it looked like the first spring training game of the Giants season might be delayed by reunions. Bruce Bochy walked out onto the field and immediately saw Bob Melvin, and while the two chatted, a steady stream of Giants came out of the dugout to see the four-time World Series champion. There was Pat Burrell and Ron Wotus, and then Triple-A manager Dave Brundage and longtime trainer Anthony Reyes. On and on it went, and the crowd got bigger when Texas Rangers hitting coaches Donnie Ecker and Justin Viele walked over.