Player review: Osleivis Basabe

Bryan Murphy reviews infielder Osleivis Basabe's 2026 campaign with the San Francisco Giants following his outright release and subsequent free agency. After batting 8-for-24 with three home runs over his first eight games, Basabe struggled significantly for the remainder of the season, batting 18-for-105 over his final 38 appearances. Overall, he finished the year hitting .202 with five home runs, 13 RBIs, and a -0.5 fWAR across 46 games.

Murphy argues that while Basabe provided brief excitement amid injuries to Casey Schmitt and roster changes, his offensive and defensive struggles ultimately showed he could not translate minor league success to the majors. With numerous infield prospects in the Giants' system, San Francisco outrighted the 26-year-old infielder at the conclusion of his run.