The San Francisco Giants have added another arm to the bullpen mix for the stretch run, claiming right-hander Joel Kuhnel off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
Kuhnel’s stay in Milwaukee was brief. The Brewers designated him for assignment earlier this week, and the Giants now become the 31-year-old’s third organization of the season.
The veteran has logged 35 combined appearances for the Athletics and Brewers this year, putting together a 4.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts across 35.1 innings. He’s also built a résumé that includes time with the Brewers and Astros, and he’s now in his sixth MLB season.
Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors pointed to the pitch mix that keeps clubs interested in Kuhnel despite the numbers.
"Teams are seemingly betting on the stuff and the minor league numbers. His four-seamer and sinker each average around 95 miles per hour, and he also features a cutter, curveball, slider, and changeup," Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors wrote about Kuhnel.
"He doesn’t rack up strikeouts but usually gets opponents to pound the ball into the ground more than half the time."
One reason Kuhnel has bounced around so much is that he’s out of minor league options, which has helped explain why he’s been with five clubs since the start of 2023.
For San Francisco, the expectation is straightforward: Kuhnel will most likely be used in low-leverage spots the rest of the way. September will serve as an audition in the Giants’ bullpen, and if he makes a strong enough impression, the club could bring him back for the 2027 season.
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San Francisco is bringing Kuhnel in for the rest of the year as an extra arm, and the Brewers now have to sort through the ripple effect of losing a pitcher who was at least in the mix. He had a 4.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts this season, but for Milwaukee the bigger issue is less the numbers than the fact that another depth option is gone at a time when every bullpen inning matters. [Read more 🡒]
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