Giants Eye Lefty Relievers as Posting Windows Open

The San Francisco Giants are shaking up their offseason blueprint. They just inked right-handers Adrian Houser and Jason Foley to major league deals while the market for left-handed relievers and top international talent suddenly heats up.

With their 40-man roster now over the limit, the Giants have to make some tough decisions. MLB clubs everywhere are weighing late-winter bullpen upgrades and racing the clock on two intriguing international posting deadlines.

Giants Bolster Pitching Staff with Houser and Foley

The Giants’ move to add Adrian Houser and Jason Foley says a lot. They’re clearly prioritizing depth and power arms on the mound.

In a division where run prevention matters more than ever, doubling down on proven right-handed pitching isn’t a luxury—it’s a must.

Roster Crunch: 40-Man Moves Coming

These signings push the Giants’ 40-man roster beyond capacity. The front office now has to clear space, and that usually means one of two things:

Here’s where it gets interesting. San Francisco’s next moves will show who they really value for the long haul and which fringe players they’re willing to risk losing.

Any DFA’d arm or controllable position player could become a bargain target for pitching-hungry clubs. That’s just the reality of the market right now.

Left-Handed Relief Market Heats Up

For weeks, the market for left-handed relievers felt stuck in neutral. Suddenly, that’s changed, and contenders are moving fast to secure late-inning southpaws before the options dry up.

Recent Signings Shake Up the Bullpen Landscape

Teams have snapped up notable lefty arms in rapid succession:

These signings don’t just fill bullpen innings. They thin the available supply fast, which usually drives up prices for what’s left.

Top Lefty Relievers Still Available

Even with that flurry, several capable southpaws are still unsigned. Teams like the Giants—or anyone still seeking balance—have a final chance to pounce:

As the market tightens, these names look more attractive. Clubs that missed on the first wave now face the prospect of entering spring shorthanded from the left side.

International Market: Murakami and Song Near Posting Deadlines

While front offices juggle domestic free agency, they’re tracking the international market closely too. Two posted players—each with very different profiles—face looming deadlines that’ll force teams to make decisive offers.

Munetaka Murakami: Power Bat with Big-League Expectations

Munetaka Murakami, the NPB slugger drawing intense interest, has a posting window that closes on December 22 at 4 PM CT. His appeal is obvious:

But there are concerns about his contact skills. Can his swing handle MLB velocity and breaking balls?

Even with those questions, he’s still expected to command a substantial multi-year contract. That says a lot about both his ceiling and how rare impact bats are right now.

Sung Mun Song: Under-the-Radar Bat with Big Numbers

On a different tier of the international ladder sits Sung Mun Song, an infielder from the KBO whose posting period closes even sooner—December 21 at 4 PM CT. He doesn’t have Murakami’s star power, but Song’s recent production is hard to ignore.

Over the past two seasons, Song has put up an eye-catching .327/.397/.524 slash line. That shows:

For teams looking beyond the headline names, Song feels like the kind of value play smart front offices love—a potential offensive contributor who may cost a lot less than the more hyped international stars but still offers real upside.

How These Moves Shape the Rest of the Offseason

The Giants added Houser and Foley. Meanwhile, the lefty relief market keeps shrinking fast.

Everyone’s watching the decisions on Murakami and Song. Each signing tightens the market, and every DFA or trade sends ripples through the league.

International agreements? Those shift the balance of power, even if just a little.

With deadlines closing in, clubs that act quickly will shape not just Opening Day, but the seasons that follow. Maybe it’s San Francisco shuffling its 40-man, a contender rolling the dice on a lefty, or a front office quietly landing Song—these are the moves that matter.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The Opener: Giants, Lefty Relievers, Posting Windows