Giants Face Tough Roster Decisions on Marco Luciano and Luis Matos Heading Into 2026

Just a couple of years ago, Marco Luciano and Luis Matos were cornerstones of the Giants’ future. Top prospects with tools that turned heads and ceilings that sparked excitement.

But as we look toward spring training in 2026, the picture looks a lot murkier. Both players are now on the verge of running out of minor league options – and with no clearly defined role on the big-league roster, they’re entering a make-or-break stretch in their young careers.

Let’s break down where things stand – and how the Giants got here.

The Options Clock Is Ticking

Luciano and Matos have each used up three option years, which means unless the Giants are granted a rare fourth option year by MLB (which does happen, but isn’t guaranteed), they’ll be out of flexibility come spring. That’s a big deal, because if either player doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, the Giants will have to expose them to waivers – and there’s no guarantee they’d clear.

Given their age and upside, it’s easy to imagine a rebuilding club taking a chance on them. Neither player is far removed from top-prospect status, and both still have the kind of tools that make scouts pause.

A Development Path Derailed

The canceled 2020 minor league season and the demands of the Rule 5 draft protection rules played a major role in shaping their trajectories. Both Luciano and Matos were added to the 40-man roster earlier than expected, not because they were ready for the majors, but because the Giants couldn’t risk losing them for nothing.

That decision was understandable – and frankly, unavoidable. When you’ve got high-upside talent in your system, you protect it.

But the consequence was that both players started burning option years before they were fully developed. And without consistent reps in the minors, their growth hit some speed bumps.

Luciano: Flashes of Power, But Still Incomplete

Luciano spent all of 2025 with Triple-A Sacramento, and his season was a bit of a rollercoaster. He showed off the power that’s always been part of his game, launching 23 home runs and driving in 66 runs over 555 plate appearances. A .749 OPS isn’t eye-popping, but it’s respectable – especially when you factor in a strong 15.3% walk rate.

But the swing-and-miss concerns haven’t gone away. Luciano struck out in over 30% of his plate appearances, and a tough final month dragged down what had been trending toward a more encouraging stat line.

Defensively, the Giants have been trying him out in left field. It’s been a learning process, to say the least, but there were signs of improvement as the year wore on. Still, he’s not a finished product out there, and that’s part of the challenge – he’s trying to learn a new position while also proving he can hit at the highest level.

His limited time with the Giants hasn’t helped his case much either. In 126 big-league plate appearances, he’s managed just a .590 OPS. It’s a small sample, but it underscores that he’s still adjusting.

Matos: A Longer Look, But Similar Questions

Matos has had more exposure to the majors, logging 593 plate appearances across parts of three seasons. But the production has been underwhelming – a .650 OPS that hasn’t quite matched the potential he flashed in the minors.

He did have a brief resurgence after being recalled in August, putting together a strong two-week stretch that hinted at a possible breakthrough. But the Giants didn’t seem fully convinced. By September, Matos was back on the bench, and he finished the season back in Sacramento.

That’s not the trajectory you want to see for a young outfielder trying to carve out a role. And like Luciano, Matos now faces a spring where he’ll either make the team – or be exposed to waivers.

What Comes Next?

The Giants are facing a tough call here. Roster spots on the 40-man are precious, especially in the offseason when teams are adding prospects and looking for ways to upgrade. If Luciano and Matos aren’t in the plans for 2026, the front office may decide to act sooner rather than later.

There’s still upside here – no question. Luciano’s power and patience at the plate are real.

Matos has shown flashes of being a dynamic outfielder with good bat-to-ball skills. But upside alone doesn’t guarantee a roster spot, especially when options are gone and roles are undefined.

The clock is ticking, and the Giants are going to have to make some hard decisions. For Luciano and Matos, this spring will be about more than just making the team – it could be about keeping their place in the organization altogether.

Stay tuned. This one’s far from over.