The San Francisco Giants are heading into a new era with Tony Vitello at the helm, and there’s no easing into it. The front office-led by Buster Posey and newly hired GM Zack Minasian-is taking a bold, budget-conscious approach to rebuilding the bullpen. And while that strategy might make sense on paper, it’s going to put Vitello in the deep end right away.
Let’s be clear: managing a bullpen is one of the trickiest parts of the job for any big league skipper, let alone one making the leap straight from the college game. And the Giants aren’t exactly handing Vitello a veteran-laden, plug-and-play relief corps.
Instead, they’re piecing things together with minor league free agents, short-term deals, and internal options. That’s not exactly a recipe for early-season comfort.
You can already see the plan taking shape. San Francisco added lefty Sam Hentges and has shown interest in Michael Kopech-two arms with upside, but also question marks.
Meanwhile, some of the top-tier names are off the board. Devin Williams?
Not happening. Edwin Díaz?
He’s headed to the Dodgers. Even Tyler Rogers, who’s been a rock in the eighth inning for years in the Bay, just signed a three-year deal with the Blue Jays.
So where does that leave the Giants? Right now, it looks like there’s going to be a wide-open competition for the late innings.
Posey has said as much, and unless they make a surprise move, that means guys like Ryan Walker, Joel Peguero, and Erik Miller are going to be in the mix for high-leverage roles. That trio has talent, but none of them are proven late-game anchors at the major league level.
And that’s where the challenge really begins for Vitello. This isn’t just about managing arms-it’s about managing uncertainty.
The Giants had one of the better bullpens in baseball during the first half of last season, but injuries and midseason trades stripped it down to the studs. Now, it’s up to a first-year MLB manager and a brand-new coaching staff to figure out who can get the ball to the finish line-and how often.
Making that transition from college to the majors is no small task. In college, you’re working with fewer games, more rest days, and a different rhythm entirely.
In the big leagues, it’s a 162-game grind. You can’t ride your best arms three days in a row.
You’ve got to manage workloads, understand matchups, and anticipate the long haul. It’s a chess match every night, and Vitello’s going to be learning on the fly.
That’s not to say he can’t handle it-he’s earned this opportunity. But the Giants could’ve made his life a little easier by locking down a proven closer.
Having that ninth inning guy in place would’ve removed one major variable from the equation. Instead, every night could turn into a bullpen puzzle, and that’s a lot to juggle for someone new to the league.
Now, to be fair, multi-year deals for closers can be risky. Relievers are volatile by nature, and tying up big money in the bullpen isn’t always the smartest long-term play.
But in this case, the Giants are betting on depth and internal development over star power. That might pay off down the line-but in the short term, it’s going to test Vitello’s learning curve.
The good news? Giants fans are smart, and they’ll likely give Vitello some runway.
But if the bullpen falters early, and if a few late-game decisions don’t go the Giants’ way, the pressure could mount quickly. That’s just the nature of the job in a passionate baseball town.
So as the Giants gear up for 2026, the bullpen will be one of the biggest storylines to watch. Who steps up?
Who earns Vitello’s trust? And how quickly can this new-look staff find its rhythm?
There’s talent here-but turning that into consistent results is going to be one of the toughest early tests of the Vitello era.