Giants Bullpen Need Could Force An Uncomfortable Padres Decision

The SF Giants eye Padres' reliever Adrian Morejon to bolster their bullpen, but face a financial dilemma over his potential high price tag.

The SF Giants are heading into another offseason with the bullpen once again sitting near the top of the to-do list, and one possible fix could come from a division rival. San Diego Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon has been mentioned as one of the more attractive relievers who could hit the market, which at least opens the door for San Francisco to take a swing if it wants to spend.

Pat Ragazzo recently reported for FanSided that a rival Padres executive thinks Morejon could land a deal in the neighborhood of what Robert Suarez got from the Atlanta Braves in free agency: about four years and $60 million. That kind of price would put Morejon among the highest-paid relievers in MLB.

The left-handed Cuban has backed up the buzz with real production. He owns a 2.86 ERA in 68 appearances this season, and that comes after a 2.08 ERA in 75 appearances and a 2.83 ERA in 60 appearances in 2024. He has also piled up 96 strikeouts in 78 and 2/3 innings this year, which helps explain why he’s being talked about as an elite arm.

The one catch is that closing has not been his calling card. Morejon has converted only eight of 19 save chances in his career, including just three of eight this season. That makes him look like the kind of reliever who can dominate almost anywhere except the ninth inning.

Tyler Rogers fit that mold in San Francisco, and, as general manager Zack Minasian pointed out, basically the entire Giants bullpen has had that same problem this season.

Even with the fit, the money may be the real obstacle. The Giants were burned before by the Mark Melancon experience, and Buster Posey’s Edwin Díaz comments earlier this season were mocked for a reason. Betting big on a reliever can go sideways fast.

That’s why the likelier path still looks like a bullpen pieced together with waiver-wire pickups, a few free-agent additions, and not much splash. The Giants clearly have not loved spending heavily on the pitching staff, and even after this year’s bullpen struggles, a costly pursuit like Morejon may still be too rich for them.

If his market comes in lighter than expected, maybe San Francisco gets a real shot. But if the price really reaches that level, the Giants may decide the risk is too much to justify, even with a rival arm sitting there for the taking.

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