The Giants finished 2025 with an 81-81 record, their fourth consecutive winless season. The club recently hired Tony Vitello as their new head coach and are clearly looking to improve on this performance in 2026. General manager Zack Minasian said the same thing in an interview with John Shea of the San Francisco Standard, noting that the Giants will aggressively add pitching depth this offseason.
“There is a pit now,” Minassian said.”That’s not to say some of those holes can’t be filled from within…but obviously if we can bring in some pitchers from the outside to continue to build depth and try to find quality, we’ll look at that as much as we can.” Minasian later added that the club would be cautious about adding pitchers to long-term contracts because of the risk of injury.
San Francisco pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.84 in 2025, which ranks 10th in the majors. The team’s 45.3 percent ground ball rate was third in the league, and they also did a good job of limiting hard contact, ranking sixth in hard hit rate at 39.6 percent. In the rotation, most success comes from the ace Logan Webbhe had a 3.22 ERA in 207 innings and a well-above-average ground ball rate of 53.2%. His fWAR reached a career-high 5.5.
Robbie Ray, Justin Verlanderand Landon Rupp Behind Weber, both had a sub-4.00 ERA. However, the club’s depth has been severely tested throughout the season. Hayden Birdsong He had a 4.80 ERA in 11 starts before being drafted in July. Jordan Hicks Made nine starts before being sent to the Red Sox. Raphael Devers trading. Aside from Webb, Ray, Verlander and Rupp, no other Giant has reached 100 innings. Rupp was placed on the injured list twice due to inflammation in his right elbow and left knee, and 10 pitchers (including Hicks) made one to nine starts.
The Giants could also use a few more arms in the bullpen. This team was a strength until it was destroyed by trades and injuries. Shipping from San Francisco Camilo Doval to the Yankees and Tyler Rogers Headed to the Mets before the trade deadline. Outstanding setter Randy Rodriguez Tommy John served in a closer role but suffered an elbow injury that ultimately required surgery. As of July, the Giants’ bullpen ranks second in ERA. They fell to 13th place in the final two months of the season. As Shea points out, Ryan Walker and Spencer Bivens Was the only reliever on the Opening Day roster to last until the end of the season.
Minassian and company have plenty of names to choose from on the free agent market, although any long-term commitment seems unlikely. Team president Greg Johnson recently mentioned concerns about signing a pitcher to a nine-figure contract, and Minassian echoed those sentiments. “I just want to say that no matter what the players are doing, it’s important for us to make the right decisions,” said Minassian, “But also understand that when you’re doing a very lengthy deal, I think you do want to be cautious because if there’s a major injury, it’s going to be a very difficult hurdle.“.
San Francisco hasn’t paid a free agent pitcher more than $100 in bonuses since Johnny Cueto In 2015, a 6-year contract worth $130. That approach could preclude the Giants from buying Dylan Seth/Framber Valdez layer, making them more likely to get involved Zach Little scope. Reuniting with Verlander fits short-term strategy and serves as president of baseball operations Buster Posey has said he would be willing to bring the veteran back.
Although the club’s finances are in good shape, Johnson did not give a clear answer on spending. FanGraphs’ RosterResource tool shows their payroll next year is around $170MM. recent signings Willie Adams, Matt Chapmanand Li ZhenghouCombined with Devers’ massive mid-season extension, it will eat up a significant portion of his salary over the next few seasons, but Webb is the only expensive commitment on the pitching side. Ray’s contract expires at the end of 2026. There should be room in the rotation and bullpen for complementary players.
Photos by D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images.
