The Braves’ decision to give Evan Phillips a three-year, $35 million deal on Thursday could end up doing the Giants a favor.
Phillips, who spent years with the Dodgers and had looked like a possible fit for San Francisco, is now off the board. And depending on how Atlanta plans to use him, the move may point the Giants toward a different veteran closer: Raisel Iglesias.
It isn’t clear whether the Braves brought in Phillips with the ninth inning in mind. He once filled that role with Los Angeles, and if Atlanta wants him there again, that could mean the club has no interest in bringing back Iglesias, who has handled closing duties there for the last several seasons.
That would matter for San Francisco. Iglesias is about to turn 37, but he still brings the kind of track record the Giants badly need.
Since 2023, he has 130 saves. In his career, he has 287.
That total doesn’t quite match Kenley Jansen, another closer who fits the Giants’ needs, but it still reflects a pitcher who has been finishing games for a long time.
And that’s the exact problem San Francisco has to solve after a 2026 season without a dependable closer. Randy Rodríguez should be back, and Camilo Doval could also return, but neither should be the Giants’ opening-night answer in the ninth inning.
Iglesias would give the bullpen a steady veteran hand and help settle things down, even if he isn’t the only arm the Giants add. The ninth inning wasn’t the only issue, no matter what Zack Minasian says, but it was a big one.
The price tag won’t be small. Phillips, a 32-year-old reliever who has made just 38 regular-season appearances over the last two years, is getting a deal that works out to a little under $12 million per season. That’s a clear reminder that relievers are expensive.
Iglesias made $16 million on a one-year deal last season, and something in that neighborhood would make sense again this winter. The Giants should be willing to pay it, especially with Iglesias unlikely to land a multi-year contract because of his age.
Atlanta could still circle back and reunite with him, with the Phillips signing simply giving them another setup option. But if this move means the Braves are moving on from Iglesias, the Giants should be ready to jump.
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