Giants Still Hunting Pitching Help This Offseason

The San Francisco Giants are knee-deep in a critical offseason, piecing together a pitching staff that’s lost some major weapons. They’re adding reliever Jason Foley and starter Adrian Houser, and they’re poking around the big-name free agent and trade markets.

The front office is trying to walk a tightrope: upgrade the rotation and bullpen, keep the payroll in check, and still fix obvious holes at second base and in the outfield. You can sense the urgency—they’re not backing down from this challenge.

Giants Rebuild a Thinned-Out Bullpen

The bullpen used to be a core part of the Giants’ identity. That’s changed fast.

San Francisco’s front office has had to retool after losing several reliable late-inning arms. It’s been a rough stretch for that group.

Jason Foley’s Role and Injury Status

Signing Jason Foley feels like a classic high-upside, wait-and-see move. He brings legit late-inning stuff, but he won’t be ready for Opening Day.

Foley starts the season on the injured list while he rehabs from shoulder surgery. The Giants are hoping for a second-half boost and maybe a bigger payoff down the line, not instant results.

Even with Foley, the bullpen’s a puzzle. The club traded away Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers at the deadline—two guys who handled a ton of pressure innings.

Plus, Randy Rodríguez is out after Tommy John surgery. That’s three major pieces gone in a hurry, which explains why the Giants keep hunting for more relief help.

San Francisco seems to be mixing value hunting with upside plays: short-term deals, injured arms like Foley, and maybe some trades for controllable relievers. It’s a bit of a patchwork, but sometimes that works out better than it sounds.

Rotation Needs: Webb and Ray Lead, Questions Follow

The rotation has a strong top, but there’s plenty of uncertainty behind it. Their 4.10 ERA in 2025 landed them 17th in MLB—right in that forgettable middle zone.

Current Rotation Picture: Webb, Ray, Houser, and Roupp

Logan Webb and Robbie Ray are the clear leaders up top. Webb gives them steady innings and sharp command, while Ray brings strikeout punch when he’s healthy.

The Giants have agreed to terms with Adrian Houser, who should offer some stability in the middle of the rotation. Landen Roupp probably grabs another spot, so that’s four starters penciled in.

That leaves one rotation slot up for grabs. Right now, it’s a contest among young, mostly untested arms.

There’s some appeal to letting the kids fight it out—cheaper, sure, but also a gamble. For a team with playoff hopes, leaning too hard on inexperience can be nerve-wracking.

Free-Agent and Trade Targets: Aggressive but Selective

The front office keeps looking for more pitching, but they’re sticking to their plan. They really don’t want long, backloaded deals that could cause payroll headaches later.

Free-Agent Interest: Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen

The Giants have checked in on top-tier starters like Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen. Either would give them a scary-good front three.

But chasing arms like that usually means giving out a massive contract or stepping way out of your comfort zone. The Giants seem intrigued, but they’re trying to stay disciplined—get impact, dodge bad contracts, and keep enough flexibility to fix other roster spots.

Trade Market: MacKenzie Gore, Kris Bubic, and Prospect Capital

On the trade side, the Giants are looking at arms like MacKenzie Gore and Kris Bubic. Both have upside and team control, which fits the front office’s long-term thinking.

They’re reportedly willing to include top prospect Bryce Eldridge in a deal if it’s the right pitcher. That’s a bold move—it’s not every day you dangle a premium prospect unless you’re convinced the return can anchor your staff for years.

Payroll, Roster Balance, and the Brendan Donovan Factor

All this maneuvering happens with a payroll sitting around $180 million. There’s still room under the competitive balance tax, but it’s not exactly unlimited.

Balancing Pitching with Position-Player Needs

Pitching grabs the headlines, but the front office can’t just focus there. The Giants still need help at second base and in the outfield.

Offensive consistency hasn’t exactly been their strong suit in those spots. That’s why their interest in Brendan Donovan matters so much right now.

San Francisco sits among the frontrunners for the Cardinals’ versatile infielder. Donovan brings on-base skills, defensive flexibility, and a knack for stretching out a lineup.

Adding him would fit a bigger plan: boost run prevention with better pitching, while also making small but important upgrades on offense and defense all over the field.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Giants Still In The Market For Pitching