By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Evan Longoria admitted he’s considered retirement at the conclusion of this season in an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle Thursday. Longoria said he discussed the subject last season with Buster Posey, who did retire. Brandon Belt is the captain, but for how much longer?

Brandon Crawford, who has had a remarkably injury-free career is on the injured list, giving the rest of the Giants a sense of what it’s like without his leadership on a daily basis.

This era of Giants is transitioning. Joey Bart has stepped in for Posey, although his still rough edges landed him back in Triple A Sacramento recently. So who’s next? Maybe the trio of 2021 standouts who were prominent and integral to the Giants’ effort in last season’s epic Game 5 against the Dodgers: Lamonte Wade Jr., Logan Webb and Camilo Doval.

Wade, who faced Max Scherzer in a pinch-hitting role in the ninth inning of that playoff game, and sent a shot just right of home run territory for a foul ball, was a good college player, and a mid-round pick for the Twins. After two stints with their big club that weren’t awe inspiring, he was dealt to the Giants.

The marriage was made in heaven: Wade thrived as a regular against left-handed pitching, putting up 18 home runs and 15 doubles in 299 at-bats in that role. His numbers after the seventh inning were even more scintillating, earning him the nickname “Late Night Lamonte.” Now 28, and after missing 60 games so far this season to various injuries, is he still the “it” guy? If so, his career in San Francisco could be lengthy.

Doval was signed as a free agent by the Giants in 2015… as a shortstop. Now, seven years later, Doval is the hard-throwing closer who continues to grow more comfortable in his role with each appearance. In 2021, Doval finished 5-1 with 37 strikeouts in 27 innings, and that earned him a pivotal role in Game 5 in a matchup with Los Angeles’ Cody Bellinger in which he allowed the game-winning hit to the Dodgers’ slugger in the ninth inning.

Doval isn’t arbitration eligible until 2025, making his situation too favorable to the Giants to do anything but keep in the role he occupies now. Also, Doval continues to improve his slider, the compliment to his near-100mph fastballs.

Webb has been with the Giants since 2014, when he was a fourth round selection in the MLB Draft. Since then, he’s been a steady riser and came into this season as the Giants’ number one starter after he became just the third Giant to throw 7 2/3 innings scoreless and strike out 10 batters. His fastball and slider combo from the same arm slot continue to fool batters this season, as his 7-2 record could be even better if it weren’t for some hiccups after Webb has departed a couple of his starts.

The Giants have Webb under control until 2026 and probably will welcome the arbitration process to determine how much their young star gets paid until then.

What’s interesting about this Giants’ trio is none of the three come with much fanfare. Those that do–Heliot Ramos, Bart and Marco Luciano–still could surpass these three or equal them in a formidable sextet down the line. The reality is, the aformentioned trio is a little bit older than Ramos, Bart and Luciano and they’ve arrived quickly with assurance. Regardless of who outdoes who going forward, this group collectively bode well for the organization’s future.

The Giants open a three-game set with the White Sox at Oracle Park on Friday night with Alex Cobb and Chicago’s Lance Lynn the announced starters.