The San Francisco Giants have a long list of problems to sort through after a rough 2026 season, but one area stands out above the rest if they want this offseason to count: the bullpen, and especially the ninth inning.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey has plenty on his plate, and this probably isn’t a fix that happens overnight. The roster is largely spoken for in 2027, and a lot of the pitching staff that ended the year on the injured list should eventually be back. The same goes for several position players who disappeared from the lineup along the way.
Still, if the Giants are going to take even a step forward next season, the late-game relief picture has to be addressed first.
The numbers tell the story. San Francisco went 30-for-58 in save situations.
Even more alarming, 16 different Giants pitchers were used in at least one save spot. That kind of instability is hard to survive.
Caleb Kilian was the most effective of the group, converting 8 of 11 chances, and the Giants still moved him at the deadline to Philadelphia. Erik Miller and Dylan Smith were next, with four saves apiece.
Posey has already acknowledged that the bullpen wasn’t reinforced enough last season, and the problem goes beyond simply finding a closer. Randy Rodriguez is expected back after missing the entire 2026 season following an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery in 2025, but he isn’t a guaranteed solution.
Before the injury, he was an All-Star setup man. After Camilo Doval was traded in July of 2025, Rodriguez took over closing duties and picked up four saves.
That means Rodriguez enters the conversation with the same career total as Miller and Smith had in 2026. He may still be the easiest answer for Posey, but he’s not a sure thing.
And even if Rodriguez handles the ninth inning, that still leaves the rest of the bullpen to sort out. Some of the team’s better setup options were injured.
Some of the pitchers Posey brought in knowing they needed recovery time never delivered. Others were asked to do too much before they were ready.
This offseason calls for more than hope and internal options. Posey needs relievers with real track records for the high-leverage innings.
He doesn’t have to land the biggest name on the market, though David Bednar is expected to be the top closer available. If the Giants can get him, that would solve a lot.
If not, the better bet is an experienced, lower-cost leverage arm to work alongside Rodriguez.
However it comes together, this is the position Posey has to nail for 2027 and beyond.
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