The SF Giants can talk about remaking the bullpen all they want this offseason, but the hard truth is that a full teardown probably isn’t coming in 2027.
President of baseball operations has already made it clear the bullpen will be a priority, and after the way this season has gone, that makes perfect sense. Still, the roster math points in a different direction: plenty of the same arms could be back, for better or worse.
If the Giants carry eight relievers next season, that group could fill up fast. Jason Foley and Sam Hentges are both under team control for next year, and while neither has been dominant, both have been solid enough while working back from major injury that there’s a strong chance they return.
There are also the younger breakout pieces. Dylan Smith and Trent Harris have both emerged this season, and each has shown enough to suggest he can handle the pressure of closing games if needed. That gives them a real shot to open next year in the bullpen as well.
The injured group adds even more overlap. José Buttó missed practically all of this season, but the Giants probably aren’t ready to move on from him. Keaton Winn gave the club enough to like in a bullpen role that he should be in the conversation too, and Randy Rodríguez is expected back after missing all of 2026.
Then there’s the long-relief picture. Matt Wilkinson looks like a natural fit for a Yusmeiro Petit-like role, giving the Giants innings out of the bullpen while also being available for spot starts. Cesar Perdomo, Yunior Marte, and Anthony Molina could also fit into that same bucket.
Put it all together, and the Giants could already have Foley, Hentges, Smith, Harris, Winn, Buttó, Rodríguez, and Wilkinson all in the mix. That’s eight names before any outside addition, which leaves very little room to maneuver. A few of those pitchers could still start the year in the minors if the Giants want some flexibility, but the broader picture is pretty clear: a lot of last year’s bullpen may be back.
That tracks with what general manager Zack Minasian said, too. He noted the Giants had a pretty good bullpen if you ignore the ninth inning, and their offseason approach may reflect that belief. The most likely path is a mix of familiar relievers, minor league contract signings, and maybe one more meaningful addition.
That bigger addition probably won’t come from the very top of the market unless the Giants are willing to overpay. Adrian Morejon and David Bednar would be tough gets. A shorter deal for Kenley Jansen, Pete Fairbanks, or another arm in that low-to-mid tier of closers, though, would fit.
It may not be the sweeping overhaul some fans want, but the Giants don’t appear poised to spend recklessly just to say they fixed the bullpen. That kind of approach rarely works anyway. Bullpens are tricky to build, and even after a year of struggles, the Giants look headed for a 2027 group with a lot of the same faces.
In Other News...
Giants Suddenly Have A Tougher Offseason Decision On Jung Hoo Lee
The Giants roster shuffle this week brought another reminder that their outfield picture is still very much in flux. Jung Hoo Lee landing on the injured list, along with Bryce Eldridge, opened the door for Bo Davidson and Marcelo Mayer to join the major league roster, while Philip Abner was designated for assignment. It is the kind of move that can look routine in September, but for San Francisco it also feeds into a bigger evaluation that goes beyond the immediate lineup.
What happens next matters because the Giants are no longer just sorting out playing time, they are sorting out priorities. Lee still sits at the center of that conversation, but the emergence of the new call-ups could influence how the front office views its options once the offseason arrives. Depending on how Davidson and Mayer perform, and on what the Giants decide they need most, the club may have to weigh whether keeping Lee and Casey Schmitt remains the best path forward. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Camilo Doval Decision Fans Never Expected
Camilo Dovals path since leaving San Francisco has taken another sharp turn, and it has put his name back in the kind of conversation Giants fans never expected to have. The former Giants closer was dealt to the Yankees last season, then moved again to Pittsburgh earlier this season, only to run into trouble there after a 3.79 ERA in 19 innings and a walk rate that became too hard to ignore.
Now the Pirates have designated Doval for assignment, which opens the door to a possible waiver claim and naturally sends eyes back toward San Francisco. The Giants have not made any confirmed move, but the fit is easy enough to see on paper given what Doval once meant to the club and how quickly a familiar arm can become available again when a team needs roster room. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Fans Have Every Reason To Worry About Blade Tidwell
Blade Tidwells night ended early with elbow discomfort, and now the Giants are waiting on further testing to see exactly what theyre dealing with. It is the kind of update San Francisco could hardly afford, because the club is already managing a pitching staff stretched thin by injuries and constant shuffling.
Cesar Perdomo is lined up to take upcoming starts as the Giants sort through the rotation, but Tidwells status could add another layer of uncertainty to the mix. If the tests reveal a more serious issue, he could become the latest starter to land on the injured list, leaving the Giants with even fewer stable answers on the mound. [Read more 🡒]