Giants Sign Jason Foley to Bolster Bullpen

The San Francisco Giants just took a calculated gamble on upside and experience. They signed former Detroit Tigers closer Jason Foley to a one-year, $2 million deal.

This move adds a proven late-inning arm to a bullpen that’s been thinned by trades and injuries. The Giants expect Foley to contribute by midseason and maybe even anchor the relief corps down the stretch.

Giants Bet on Jason Foley’s Health and Track Record

The timing of this signing says a lot about how the Giants are thinking. Foley isn’t here to win a job in March; they’re eyeing him as a midseason boost with real upside for late 2026 and maybe beyond.

Recovering from Shoulder Surgery, Aiming for Midseason Return

Foley missed most of 2025 after shoulder surgery. That red flag led the Tigers to non-tender him last month.

Despite his solid work in Detroit, the 6’4” righty landed in free agency. The Giants are betting he’ll be ready to pitch by midseason, which means Opening Day is off the table.

In practical terms, this is a classic front office move. They’re buying low on a reliever with a track record, willing to wait out the rehab, and hoping he pays off when the bullpen gets stretched in the summer.

Foley’s Performance Profile: Ground Balls Over Strikeouts

On paper, Foley fits the mold the Giants seem to like lately. He’s a durable, strike-zone–pounding reliever who gets soft contact and keeps his infielders busy.

A Consistent Performer with Closer Experience

Over nearly 200 major league innings, Foley owns a 3.16 ERA. That puts him solidly in the “reliable late-inning arm” category.

From 2021 to 2024, he became a key high-leverage reliever for the Tigers, notching a team-leading 28 saves in 2024. That experience closing games matters; the Giants aren’t just grabbing another middle reliever here.

What makes Foley interesting is how he gets his outs. He doesn’t fit the modern high-strikeout mold, but his profile is built for Oracle Park.

• Strikeout rate: 18.1% – below league average for relievers
• Ground-ball rate: 54.1% – well above average
• Walk rate: 6.2% – impressively low for a late-inning arm

That combo—fewer strikeouts, more ground balls, and limited free passes—just fits a club that trusts its infield defense and plays in a park that suppresses home runs.

Power Sinker Fits the Giants’ Defensive Blueprint

Foley’s calling card is a power sinker. He throws it nearly 62% of the time and, when healthy, it averages just under 97 mph.

He pairs the sinker with a slider and the occasional changeup, but the sinker is his bread and butter. It keeps the ball on the ground and helps him survive without big strikeout numbers.

For a Giants team that’s invested in solid infield gloves, a pitcher who lives at the knees and gets grounders is more asset than outlier. Foley’s skill set should play well at Oracle Park, turning potential extra-base hits into routine outs.

From Velocity Dip to Fresh Start in San Francisco

There’s a reason a 28-save closer with a 3.16 ERA was available for just one year and $2 million. Foley’s 2025 season never got off the ground.

Spring Setback and Lost Season in Detroit

During spring training, Foley couldn’t regain his usual velocity. That was a warning sign that something was off physically.

The Tigers, noticing his diminished stuff, sent him to Triple-A Toledo. Before he had a chance to rebound, he hit the minor league injured list, and then came shoulder surgery. His year was basically over.

By the offseason, Foley had just over three years of major league service time. That made him eligible for arbitration but also an easy cut for Detroit.

Rather than pay for his rehab and arbitration, the Tigers non-tendered him. The Giants jumped at the opportunity.

Contract Details and Long-Term Upside for the Giants

The financial and control elements of this deal are nearly as intriguing as the on-field fit. For the Giants, this is about more than just 2026.

One-Year Deal with Multi-Year Control Potential

Foley just signed a one-year, $2 million major league deal. After the 2025 season, he’ll have a bit over three years of service time.

That means the Giants could keep him arbitration-eligible for two more years after 2026. If he bounces back, San Francisco could hang onto a high-leverage reliever through 2028, dodging free agency prices.

The Giants’ bullpen has taken some hits lately from trades and injuries. This move gives them a shot at both reliable innings now and a cost-friendly leverage arm for the future.

If Foley’s shoulder holds up and he finds that 97 mph fastball again, this might turn out to be one of the sneakiest bullpen pickups of the offseason. It’s a gamble, but honestly, it could pay off big for the Giants.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Giants Sign Jason Foley