Sam Hentges’ first season back in the Giants’ bullpen was a mixed bag, and the numbers tell the story pretty cleanly. He posted a 3.19 ERA across 45 appearances in 2026 after San Francisco brought him in knowing he was working his way back from several ailments that wiped out his 2025 season.
The stuff was there often enough to matter. Hentges struck out 41 batters in 36 and 2/3 innings, but the other side of the ledger was harder to ignore: 25 walks and a 1-7 record. That kind of line can stick with a fan base, especially when a reliever has a habit of ending up on the wrong side of close games.
Still, the Giants weren’t signing him for a finished product. Hentges had been a steady left-handed reliever with the Cleveland Guardians, where he put up a 2.93 ERA in 138 innings. The idea seemed straightforward enough: let 2026 be the reset year, then see whether he could settle in and provide value at a relatively modest cost in 2027.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Hentges for $2 million in arbitration, and that price would make sense for what he offers. San Francisco already showed it was willing to move on from another injured reliever in Jason Foley by sending him through waivers, but Hentges feels like a different case. It would be surprising to see the Giants take the same route with him.
Even so, he shouldn’t be the only left-handed option Brian Sabean’s bullpen is built around next season. If that’s the plan, the Giants have a bigger problem on their hands, especially after how rough the bullpen was in 2026.
That’s why JoJo Romero stands out as such an appealing fit. The free-agent lefty was excellent for the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs, and especially against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. In an ideal setup, Romero would handle the high-leverage late innings while Hentges fills a lower-leverage role, similar to how Taylor Rogers was used a few years ago.
Hentges didn’t light it up in 2026, but given everything he was coming back from, he did enough to stay in the picture. He could still be part of the Giants’ bullpen plans for 2027.
In Other News...
Duane Kuiper Gives Giants Fans A Welcome Reason For Optimism
Duane Kuiper made a welcome public appearance at a Golden State Warriors game this week, showing up in good spirits while wearing a Golden State Valkyries hat to support the Bay Areas new WNBA team. For Giants fans, it was a reassuring sight from a broadcaster who has been a familiar part of the clubs identity for years, especially after his throat cancer diagnosis in September and the treatment that has followed.
The timing also matters for the booth, where the Giants still have not announced a replacement for Mike Krukow after his recent retirement. Kuiper is expected to remain the play-by-play voice next season, and seeing him out in the Bay Area and engaged with another local team offered a small but meaningful bit of optimism for a fan base that has had plenty of questions about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Opened Another 40-Man Spot For What Comes Next
The Giants cleared another spot on the 40-man roster by dealing infielder Nate Furman to the Nationals for minor league left-hander Tony Neubeck, a move that fits the kind of small but meaningful roster churn that often comes this time of year. Furman had already reached the majors with San Francisco and brought a track record of getting on base and adding speed in the minors, so this was not just a paper move for the front office.
For the Giants, the real significance is what the opening can mean next, especially with roster flexibility always at a premium as the season moves along. Neubeck is still early in his pro career after signing as a free agent, while Washington made room by designating Richard Lovelady for assignment, leaving San Francisco with a little more breathing room for whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Turned A 40-Man Squeeze Into An Intriguing Pitching Bet
The Giants used a roster move to clear some room on a crowded 40-man as they head into the offseason, sending Nate Furman to the Nationals for left-handed pitcher Tony Neubeck. It is the kind of transaction that rarely grabs headlines on its own, but it fits the reality San Francisco is facing right now, with players set to return from the 60-day injured list and roster spots becoming a premium.
Furmans limited major league success made him a movable piece, and the deal gives the Giants a chance to take a look at a pitching arm while keeping their roster flexible. For a club trying to balance immediate housekeeping with longer-term pitching depth, this is the sort of bet that can look minor in November and matter more once the offseason churn really begins. [Read more 🡒]