Wednesday, October 21

SAN FRANCISCO -- After losing 97 games this season, the Giants will enter the offseason with plenty of holes to fill on their roster. But their most glaring needs will revolve around their pitching staff, which ranked 23rd in the Majors in ERA (4.33) in 2026. 

President of baseball operations Buster Posey has said bolstering the porous bullpen will be a priority, but the Giants will also require more depth for a starting rotation that was hollowed out by injuries this year. Logan Webb, Landen Roupp and Adrian Houser will be back in 2027, but four other young starters -- Hayden Birdsong, Carson Whisenhunt, Trevor McDonald and Blade Tidwell -- are expected to miss significant time while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, underscoring the need for more reinforcements.   

Here are seven free agents the Giants could potentially target to shore up their pitching staff this winter: 

Adrian Morejon, LHP

Morejon served as the setup man for Padres closer Mason Miller this season, but he’s expected to command a far heftier price tag than most middle relievers. The 27-year-old southpaw figures to be one of the most coveted bullpen arms on the market, as he logged a 2.83 ERA over 86 innings in a career-high 76 appearances for San Diego this season. A 2025 All-Star, Morejon tallied 2.8 fWAR this year, the fourth-highest mark among big league relievers. 

David Bednar, RHP

Unlike Morejon, Bednar has extensive closing experience in the Majors. The two-time All-Star has racked up 146 saves over his eight big league seasons, including 35 for the Yankees in 2026. Bednar, 32, recorded a 2.47 ERA over 69 1/3 innings in 64 appearances this year and has a notable link to San Francisco, as he’s the older brother of Giants 2021 first-round Draft pick Will Bednar. 

Raisel Iglesias, RHP

The 36-year-old Iglesias likely won’t require as long of a commitment as Morejon or Bednar, but he should still be in demand after delivering his first career All-Star campaign for the Braves this year. Iglesias posted a 2.55 ERA with 34 saves over 59 appearances in 2026, his 12th season in the big leagues.  

Michael King, RHP

Left-hander Tarik Skubal is the undisputed headliner of the free-agent class this offseason, but there will be other high-upside starting pitchers available, including King. The 31-year-old veteran is widely expected to opt out of the three-year, $75 million contract he signed with the Padres last December and re-enter free agency this winter. King struggled to stay healthy in 2025, but he bounced back to post a 3.21 ERA over 32 starts for San Diego this season. 

Freddy Peralta, RHP

Peralta, 30, struggled to a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts with the Mets this year, but he enjoyed better results after being dealt to the American League champion Rays at the 2026 Trade Deadline. He logged a 3.25 ERA over his final 10 regular-season starts for Tampa Bay and earned ALCS MVP honors after dominating in the postseason, which should earn him plenty of interest in free agency this winter. The two-time All-Star also happens to be best friends with Willy Adames, a potential boon to the Giants’ recruiting pitch.

Kevin Gausman, RHP 

Gausman revitalized his career over his two seasons with the Giants, serving as the ace of the club’s franchise-record 107-win team in 2021. The Giants let him walk in free agency at the end of that season, but a potential reunion could make sense if Gausman wants to keep pitching in 2027. His former catcher, Posey, is now calling the shots with the Giants, and he remains good friends with current San Francisco ace Logan Webb. Now 35, Gausman recorded a 4.51 ERA over 32 starts between the Blue Jays and Cubs this year. 

Nick Martinez, RHP

Martinez is coming off a career season with the Rays, posting a 3.10 ERA over 31 starts while earning his first career All-Star nod in 2026. He doesn’t miss a ton of bats, but he averaged an MLB-low 1.30 walks per nine innings this year. That could prove attractive to the Giants, who have said they need to do a better job of throwing strikes in 2027. The 36-year-old Martinez has a $20 million mutual option for 2027, but he seems likely to decline it and pursue a multi-year deal in free agency this offseason. 

Giants pitching prospect Miguel Mendez (No. 16), who was acquired from the Padres in exchange for left-hander Robbie Ray at the 2026 Trade Deadline, is turning up the heat in the desert. 

The 24-year-old right-hander has flashed upper-90s velocity in his three starts in the Arizona Fall League, where he's logged a 3.52 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for the Scottsdale Scorpions. More >> 

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