January 5th: The Giants officially announced the Mahle signing today but still haven’t announced a corresponding 40-man roster move.
January 1st: Mahle is guaranteed $10MM on the deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Performance bonuses could bump it up near $13MM, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.
Dec. 31: The Giants are closing in on a deal with free agent right-hander Tyler Mahle, reports Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. It’s a one-year pact, per Rubin. The 31-year-old Mahle is a client of ISE Baseball.
Mahle is coming off an injury-riddled 2025 with the Rangers, though he was productive when healthy. The veteran righty was one of the most pleasant early-season surprises, pitching to a 1.64 ERA over the first two months of the season. Mahle allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his first 12 starts to begin the campaign. He was knocked around for eight earned runs across his first two starts of June, then hit the IL with shoulder fatigue. Mahle returned for a pair of outings in September, allowing a run over 9 2/3 innings.
Persistent maladies have limited Mahle to just 125 innings over the past three seasons. He made nine starts across a season and a half with Minnesota, missing time with a strained shoulder and a forearm issue. It was a disappointing outcome for the Twins, who parted with Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to land Mahle at the 2022 trade deadline. After signing with Texas in December 2023, Mahle missed the first four months of the year while recovering from elbow surgery. After three games with his new club, he went down with shoulder tightness and missed the rest of the year.
Mahle was routinely striking out more than a batter per inning during his peak years with Cincinnati, but those numbers have tailed off as the injuries have mounted. Mahle posted an uninspiring 19.1% strikeout rate last season. He sat at 92 mph with his fastball, down a couple of ticks from his best seasons with the Reds. The ERA estimators all suggest Mahle’s 2.18 ERA in 2025 should be viewed with skepticism. His xERA and xFIP were both above 4.00, while his SIERA was all the way up at 4.62. Mahle ran hot with home run luck (4.9% HR/FB), while also benefiting from a career-high 84.6% LOB%.
It was reported in mid-December that the Giants were still in the market for pitching after signing righty Adrian Houser. With Justin Verlander hitting free agency, the club entered the offseason with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray as the only guaranteed members of the 2026 rotation. Landen Roupp, who missed the final six weeks of the 2025 campaign with a knee injury, is also expected to be on the staff. Houser and Mahle are the favorites to round out the group.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey entered the offseason focused on adding to the rotation and the bullpen. While the club has been connected to some of the bigger names on the starter market, including Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen, the moves so far have been relatively minor. Houser came on board via a two-year, $22MM pact with a club option for a third season. The Giants added relievers Jason Foley and Sam Hentges on cheap deals. Mahle now joins the squad on a one-year deal.
Given the injury histories for Ray and Mahle, plus the limited track record for Roupp, San Francisco will likely need to lean on internal options for additional innings. Carson Whisenhunt, Carson Seymour, and Kai-Wei Teng all received opportunities last season, but none delivered useful results. Hayden Birdsong graduated from a long relief role to the rotation, but control issues led to a demotion to Triple-A. Keaton Winn and Blade Tidwell (acquired in the Tyler Rogers trade) missed time with injuries. Trevor McDonald might be the leading candidate to open the year as the sixth starter/injury fill-in. The righty closed the year with a pair of stellar outings, tossing six innings of one-run ball against the Dodgers and striking out 10 Rockies over seven frames.
RosterResource currently has the Giants’ payroll at $175MM for 2026. That mark doesn’t include Mahle’s deal or the $17MM payment owed to Blake Snell in mid-January as part of his deferred signing bonus. When adding in those considerations, the club is on track to comfortably exceed the $177MM it spent on payroll last season. The increase in expenses could be the reason the Giants ultimately rounded out the rotation with low-cost veterans in Houser and Mahle. A general hesitation by the front office to pursue long-term deals for starters likely also factored in.
Photos courtesy of Jerome Miron, Imagn Images
Buster doin things .. happy new years trade rumors fam
Same back to you. Here’s to an even year!
So far his moves are very underwhelming, this one included. If Greg Johnson is the force behind this crapola then a pox on him.
Mahle had a very nice year last year, in limited innings.
As always, very, very limited innings. And at best a #5.
That’s the problem. Webb is a stud, and Ray can be counted on to take the hill every fifth day. And I’m a big believer in Roupp, but that still leaves two rotation spots to cover in a perfect world where those three never miss a start. Counting on Houser and Mahle to round out the rotation for 20-30 starts each is far from certain, and the rest of their young arms are full of uncertainty too.
This team could use one more consistent, reliable, established arm that they can at least slot in the third or fourth spot and pencil in for (health willing) 150+ innings. It would take pressure off Roupp and the other young guys, as well as start April with enough MLB depth to withstand an injury or two right out the gate.
Right now, this team is one injury and one disappointing sophomore slump away from having half a rotation, which obliterated their 2023-24 bullpens by early June. Compound that with the lack of hefty reinforcements to their relievers, and this is a staff that could easily flounder with a bit of bad luck — despite their pitcher haven of a ballpark and deep pockets that ownership doesn’t seem keen on opening.
Not trying to be doom and gloom, but I think it’s fair to be worried as a Giants fan. I’d love to be proven wrong with some good luck and quality pitching development, or maybe Buster is on the cusp of a sneaky blockbuster acquisition. But I’m not holding my breath.
Ray takes the mound every fifth day in every 3rd season?
Ray made 32 starts last year, his first full year back from TJ surgery. Before that, he was good for 30+ starts since his days in Arizona.
He’s an established veteran coming off a healthy, productive year. Of course injuries could happen, but that’s always a possibility for literally anyone Ray isn’t some fragile injury-prone guy because he had TJ a few years ago
@ann
I pretty much agree with everything you said, this is a very high risk/potentially high upside roster at the moment.
But I’m moreso commenting to say that I dig your username and image.
2 seasons in between those 30+ start seasons, hence every third season. The reason is academic.
Ann Porkins —
100% agree on everything you said.
Actually Houser and Mahle may very well perform better tan you’re thinking. No need for a crapola attitude.
Houser & Mahle def won’t strike fear in opposing teams
Surely this can’t be all for the rotation. Fill-ins like last season won’t lead to contending for playoff spot
Either Vitello knows something big is going to happen or he’s probably thinking what have I gotten myself into
Now is definitely the time for panic. It is almost January
What’s Vitello got to do with this?? 1st of January is NOT the time to panic!!
@ramos
This feels like equivalent to the 2021 Giants signing deSclafani and Alex Wood: they are both high variance pitchers, but with real upside.
In deSclafani and Woods’ cases, they were outstanding in 2021 but miserable/injured in 2022, and I feel like Houser and Mahle have that exact same range of outcomes.
@disadvantage
Solid take
‘Feels like’… Because everything is always exactly as it appears? Feelings are not facts, and they play the games for a reason. Look at Mahle’s ERA last year and tell me that’s bad…
@disadvantage I can see your point there.
@ramos
I’m glad to hear it, because you gave me a very Jekyll and Hyde response there.
Depending on the contract, this could be a low cost higher upside signing. With the injury history I don’t imagine he’ll have a lot of guaranteed money. It will probably be a heavily incentive based contract.
I think Posey has been crushing it.
Tidwell, Gilbert and Butto for Rogers was a real coup. Butto is going to be good this season.
Devers for Bello, Tibbs and Harrison, good prospects out the door but shed Hicks in the process and Devers is going to settle in at DH.
Nailed the Yankees on Parks Harber and Jesus Rodriguez, the B side of that trade is looking like two pitchers who both could develop into very good pitchers. He got as good of a haul for Doval as the White Sox got for Crochet.
Didnt trade Eldridge, that is a huge win.
Signed two of the best values in the SP market in Mahle and Hauser, bullpen too soft to spend any real money on an ace but Hauser and Mahle both pitched at a solid 2/3 level last season and could put them in position to add to the bullpen at the trade deadline.
I like Oselvis Basabe too, a nice MI prospect on a minor league deal.
“ Devers for Bello, Tibbs and Harrison.”
lol what?
ABS:I like your outlook for 2026. Good Giants fans should have a positive outlook as well. Buster is making things happen. Does that guarantee anything? No. But I like his moves so far. Looking forward to spring training and regular season. I really believe Devers is going to mash the ball this year. When they were competitive last year it was great to see Oracle Park filled with fans again. Attendance had been down for a few years. Gians fans were excited last. We’ll see more of that this year.
“He got as good of a haul for Doval as the White Sox got for Crochet.”
lol dude your singular comment is so full of errors that multiple “lols” are necessary. You might wanna check on this one too.
Giants attendance was down, Oracle Park didnt look like the Coliseum on its worst day but I believe what you report. Those had to be great games and great times at the Coliseum for those who made it to the games, a great and historic ballpark.
I was watching some highlights on Mets games last season, Id see an entire section in the lower reserved box seats empty. It was kind of bewildering to think that the Mets are having problems selling tickets. I figured they were all sold and the people just didnt show up.
Its one reason I dont like the new A’s stadium, its going to be a disappointment if fans dont show up.
I like Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas, where the Aviators play, they should have expanded the capacity to 15K and moved the A’s in. Those would be hot tickets all summer, share the park with the Aviators, raisee ticket prices to keep revenues decent. Packed house every night.
Its too small-ball for MLB but it would be a lot of fun. Nobody wants to sit in that damn dome.
I saw a stadium build for the Wilson Warbirds, only 4.5K capacity, a nice ballpark, those places are going to pack the house and MiLB is going to start pulling fans in. Only 64M for the ballpark, part of a 280M dollar residential / commercial development.
Sean P If you’re going to bash No ABS you might try being correct. “Full of errors”? Get a clue before you criticize. White Sox got a good haul for Crochet but the gets on Doval trade weren’t bad. Is it possible Sean P doesnt read so well?
Also got rid of the Hicks contract.
Red Sox gave up significantly more. And it wasn’t a “bashing”.
Probably snarkier than necessary. My bad.
Rodriguez can hit and is a good defensive catcher. He could be as good as Kyle Teel. Parks Harber thrashed AFL. Carlos De La Rosa probably the best prospect of the lot. Trystan Vrieling also looks like a really good pitcher.
Singular – is that an insult? My comment wasn’t singular, it was radical.
I also put a significant amount of research and thought into it, in verifting an observation that I made off the cuff, on my knowing and rememberance of each of those transactions from last season.
You pop in like a kid who dropped his ice cream.
Now that Devers isn’t on a PR recovery mission he will start getting comfortable and be much less of a team player. Then you’ll see his true colors. Guarantee that he will butt heads with Buster, who has always been a stand up guy and hard worker. Couldn’t be more different when it comes to personalities and work ethic. Always been a huge fan of BP.
Lots of “could be’s” in there. No where near what Teel is. Montgomery alone may be worth more than what the giants got. Then there’s an addition MLB caliber starting 2B and SP.
Side note: if I dropped my ice cream I would be pissed. I was just a bit more irascible than needed. Like I said, my bad.
Rodriguez has a 55 arm behind the dish and hit .303 in AAA last season.
Montgomery is a good prospect, could be an All-Star.
Parks Harbor is a bigtime slugger, .970 OPS in A ball.
De La Rosa might be an Ace.
You didnt mention Meidroth who I think is a great ballplayer and Gonzalez who I like a lot too. Im a White Sox fan, and I thought we made a great trade but to be completely honest, looking at De La Rosa as an Ace and Harbor as a Pete Alonso type of hitter, Id take the package that the Giants got for Doval over the package that the White Sox got for Crochet and that’s my honest opinion of the two returns.
All Devers does is rake all day. He dont play PR games. I thought he was in good shape last year. He is a guy who never had to work too hard because he is so talented but everybody falls off when they hit their late twenties, have to put in a lot of effort to keep it going. Devers likes to hit so much that he is going to put his work in.
Hopefully he gets his glove work in because he could be back at 1B/3B when needed.
Meidroth and Gonzalez are the mlb caliber starting 2B and SP I mention. Devers was certainly on a PR rehab mission last year saying he was open to playing and 1B and whatever the team needed. Was a no brainer move. He literally bailed on the RS last year when in need. Did he deserve to be jerked around by RS front office? No probably not. But at the same time, when the team was desperate, he did not step up. He’s not a social guy. For him that was the equivalent of a full blown PR tour.
More like Giants were willing to assume Devers’ contract and included Harrison in the deal.
I think it was a good move for Giants but it was more akin to a free agent signing than making a shrewd trade.
That was the trade Sean p. Look it up junior.
Or he will do what most functioning humans do. Learn from whole sh$t fight he was a part of and avoid the actions that added to it in the future. Give the man a chance.
@sean.
No ABS in ’27 –
Yes, but his moves so far portend another .500 finish. I don’t believe he’s done (or at least I don’t WANT to believe he’s done).
He looked pretty good at 1b last year and I think he’ll improve. He’s definitely not a problem at 1b.
Wow Sean P. I had no clue you thought Devers was an overpay. Now that I know i apologize for my post. I think Posey sabeaned the red Sox mets and Yanks. do you agree? Giants got good returns in each trade to me. Again, apologies
The good part about Devers is that a LHH power free agent would never sign in SF unless they were waaaaay overpaid in years and dollars.
I can actually respect this response. Cheers
Sean P: Everyone changes and matures. I put Devers in this category and Buster wouldn’t have traded for him if he thought he would be a player he would butt heads with. I believe we will see a much happier and very content Devers. And that will lead to a great year by Devers which will help the Giants improve. To “guarantee” is a pretty strong opinion. I’m glad you like Buster but I think you are still bitter about the Red Sox losing Devers. If so, you should try to move on. The Red Sox and Devers have moved on too.
The trade was shrewd in that the timing was before the deadline. Striking before other teams got interested eliminated a lot of teams that didn’t see the Red Sox sending Devers packing until the trade deadline. Buster got involved before other teams could.
Improving the team.
One infinitesimal step at a time.
#EBJ Yeah because Chapman, Adames and Devers were all ‘infantismal steps’. Infantile take.
“You may have forgotten me, but I will never forget you.”
Giants have Maul, Dodgers are the Empire.
We all know what happens to empires. Every single time.
They strike back?
Happy New Year’s to baseball fans, even rebel scum.
Not in the real world they don’t!
@MLB Top 100 Commenter
LMAO… You really Jedi mind-tricked that comment 👍
In 2026, let’s see which teams win on May the 4th.
Giants play Friars.
Dodgers play trash can lid bangers.
May the 4th be with you!
I’ll take a thousand years of ruling before the rebellion.
So pathetic, you have to be an idiot to support this team. No motivation by ownership to actually win. They are just trying to do enough to get dumb fans to spend money.
Ric7744
Giants have three championships in past two decades. They have taken steps to compete for the wild card during a time period when the Dodgers have been dominant.
In recent years they have acquired Devers, Adames (overpay), Chapman, Lee and Ray. Giants are not up there with Dodgers, Phillies and Brewers, but were only a couple games behind Cubs and Padres late in the 2025 season.
I guess nothing special is considered things.
No Imai for SF then.
They were most likely going to sign this type of guy. Like Verlander last year. May not be out on Imai though.
May not be out on Verlander
True. Or Scherzer!
Eww & Yuk on Verlander/ Sherzer.
Been there done that, didn’t work.
Verlander had it going at the end of last season.
Verlander on a one year deal is probably ok. Not too early for Giants to decide if they want to extend Ray. Seems like Giants need one more bat more than another starter. Webb, Ray, Roupp, Houser, Mahle, Walker, Miller, Birdsong, Tidwell, Whisenhunt in bullpen and spot starters.
C- Bailey
1B/DH – Devers, Eldridge
2B- Schmidt, Koss
SS-Adames
3B- Chapman
OF- Lee, Ramos, Matos, Gilbert
Matos is likely gone, Gilbert can’t hit MLB pitching.
Basically we have an All Star slugger LF in Ramos, hopefully Lee improves, Tucker for RF would be great. Or Bader for CF and slide Lee over to RF. Either would solidify the OF.
I do think Ramos will bounce back at the plate.
Why do you think Matos is gone? Even if the Giants get another outfielder, Matos can be the fourth outfielder.
I really do not have a strong opinion on whether Gilbert can hit MLB pitching. I have read articles both favorable and not about his future.
I think Ramos will rebound both at the plate, and back to his above average defense in LF as well. And, as Susan Slusser has pointed out, he has 30+ HR power.
Matos is out of options, just like Meckler was. He hasn’t proven himself. That’s why I think he’s likely gone.
Gilbert has a .190 career batting average, albeit in a small sample size. Personally I like McCray a lot. He seems to have the loudest tools of all our young OF who have debuted so far. I think Encarnacion probably gets the first shot at the RF job in spring training, if he’s still around. (He’s out of options too.)
Verlander was an above average starter in 2025 with a 3.85 ERA and matching FIP. A #3 is average. He was better than that.
“Matos is out of options, just like Meckler was. He hasn’t proven himself.”
Meckler turns 26 in April, Matos turns 24 at the end of the month.
Ramos, at Matos’ age hadn’t proven himself either. Look at their age 23 seasons:
Ramos: 25 games, 1 HR, 20 SOs with a line of .179/.233/.304, .537 OPS, 48 OPS+.
Matos: 57 games, 8 HRs, 27 SOs with a line of .221/.266/.424, .691 OPS, 95 OPS+.
It would be short-sighted to give up on Matos at age 24, as you suggest. His trade value is low, because he hasn’t broken out, but has an upside equal to, or even higher, than that of Ramos.
Is that because the rotation is now full? Not familiar with SF rotation but I’d assume a cheap 1yr deal wouldn’t take them out on Imai unless the rotation was full
It’s only full from the standpoint that they now have 5 pitchers they can preliminarily slot 1 through 5. I don’t think they’re necessarily done though.
Whether it’s this Imai guy, another FA, or a trade target, there are both upgrades to guys like Mahle and, as opposed to whobwe had last year, quality depth options who would allow Whisenhunt more time in the minors to develop complementary pitches to his incredible change changeup.
Wisenhunt isnt currently in their top 5. Hes not projected to start for the Giants at all.
And Roupp is as solid as they come. I think his upside is as a quality #2 even though he’s the #3 right now.
It’s not full. Landen Roupp would currently slot in as the fifth starter, but there’s no reason to believe he has the spot locked down—unless the Giants just don’t plan on spending big.
That would be a shame, though. With the A’s gone, the Giants have the third-wealthiest metro area all to themselves. They could certainly hand out another big contract and still manage to keep afloat.
Roupp has the 3rd spot in the rotation. He is not going back to AAA. Make will have to earn a spot in the rotation, and based on his history, he really shouldn’t be counted on.
I can’t imagine Roupp being the #3 with Mahle and Houser in the rotation. He doesn’t have much of a track record, and his walks are out of control.
If anything, I could see these three accounting for two turns in the rotation, being that none of them has pitched a full season lately.
If they were to get one of the four big names still on the market, then they’d have a formidable top three, with Mahle/Houser/Roupp rounding things out quite nicely.
Moonlight Graham —
Roupp is not #5 behind Hauser or Mahle, both of whom are #5s.
I think it is Webb, Ray, Roupp, Hauser and Mahle in that order. Mahle has more upside and downside than Hauser.
Roupp could get bumped down to 4th in the rotation, if they sign Framber or Ranger
Agree, and let’s hope it happens, although my guess is Ranger or Zac Gallen—I’d be happy with either though I prefer Ranger.
Between Houser and this guy they might be expecting a full season of starts, given their history. They may very well not be done and may very well sign another SP.
I’d like to think that their meeting with Framber Valdez was not for nothing.
I think valdez isn’t happening. they are gonna have to go too big on a long term deal which they have not been interested in doing. I would guess that it would be imai over him if they can get something like a 3 year deal with incentives and options
I’d prefer Ranger Suarez, even Zac Gallen.
Valdez won’t command more than 4-5 years and would be a great pickup. He’s essentially a LH version of Webb.
Both are good, but imo Framber Valdez is better, the cream of the crop, out of those 3.
Tier 1
Imai and Ranger
Tier 2
Framber
Tier 3
Gallen, Giolito, Quintana, Verlander
Tier 4
Nick Martinez, Max Scherzer
Imai not a tier above Valdez.
Ask his wallet.
Interesting Tier grouping, where would you slot Dylan Cease?
Id rank:
Tier 1 – Framber / Suarez
Tier 2 – Imai / JV / Cease
Tier 3 – Giolito / Scherzer
Tier 4 – Quintana / Gallen
Tier 5 – Martinez
JV a better pitcher than Dylan Cease.
Cease would be a Tier 2, he gets paid as a Tier 2 because he is durable. Framber was a Tier 1 before he threw at his own catcher.
I guess that his lack of demand shifts Imai down a tier. GMs have seen more tapes and footage than me.
Quintana has been a bargain the past couple years.
I slot Imai up high because of his age and his stuff. I slot Cease behind JV and Imai because he walks a lot of hitters and is gives up a lot of walks and over the past three seasons has a 4.16 ERA.
I think JV is still learning to pitch without relying on the heater, and I think he puts it together this season.
The ‘there at his own catcher’ thing is just speculation. Literally everyone actually close to and involved in the incident are adamant that it was a miscommunication, and there is no definitive proof of otherwise.
We can think we like to know more than we do, but that does not actually make us more knowledgable .
Tier one clearly was not Imai lol. Media hype does not make a player great.
Tier 1
Framber and Ranger
Guess not, but let’s see how Framber does
Not guessing, it’s just fact. Yes, let’s do.
Giants are goin for it!!!
I assume you’re being facetious.
Don’t assume anything. Hopefully Imai is next for you guys.
@Pete’sView I see you’re trying to kill enthusiasm for the Giants. Why? What’s in it for you?
Ramos Splash Hit —
Not at all. I’m a Giants fanatic. I’m at or watch 150 games a year, so I’m not trying to kill enthusiasm, I’m just giving my opinion like everybody else here. And what I’m seeing is another .500 club with the moves SO FAR. And you may have noticed that others have similar opinions. I expect there to be more moves and a better roster by ST.
You meant Giants aren’t goin for it
Maybe they can get him at 2/45M
@Motor
That’s not guaranteed at all. But there’s also no guarantee that Imai will be good at all in MLB.
Imai’s projections are *barely* better than Mahle’s.
And Imai will probably come in at 5-6x the price tag.
Mahle’s a good pitcher, but he’s an injury risk. I think it’s a good signing.
There’s definitely risk there. But it’s a 1-year deal, which is essentially playing with house money in baseball.
Imai is gonna get a lot of money to be slightly better than Tyler Mahle. Yeah, no thanks.
FG Projection
26 starts, 144 innings, 4.37 FIP, 1.5 fWAR
Probably around 1 year, $10 million
Would be a miracle if he throws a 144 innings
Exactly. He is good when healthy but he rarely stays healthy.
I doubt he throws 144 innings but I also doubt he has an FIP over 4. Hes good if hes healthy. High risk high reward.
When Verlander was signed I predicted that he’d probably throw around 150+ innings. I was told that I was ‘delusional’ by internet know-it-alls.
lol at “miracle”.
Miracle is being kind.
That’s more than the last 3 years combined.
Ha ha. “Miracle” is dumb. Unlikely is way closer.
I want my Giants to become the current Dodgers. And it won’t happen overnight. And it definitely won’t happen by trying to outspend or approach the Dodgers payroll. And Adames was a one off by Posey as far as signing Qualifying free agents. Add the QO signings of Chapman/Snell and they have lost a 2nd and 3rd pick in 2024 and a 2nd and 5th pick in 2025 and have lost 1.5 million in international pool money. So reading the Posey tea leaves,he won’t sign any more Qualified FAs and wants to build a strong farm system. The link below is a July 2023 LA TIMES article that details what the Dodgers have done to build. Excellent scouting, drafting and player development. THEN you can trade from a prospect surplus to continue to build. The. build a Pacific Rim connection and then spend. Its an excellent article and it honestly will be difficult to emulate the Dodger plan. BUT the farm is improving (was bottom 5 but is approaching top 15). So, again, if you want to compete with LA and others, over spending NOW is a bad idea. And BTW, if some of you think Chapman, Devers, Adames, Ray, Lee and Webb are cheap then you are bad at math.
latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2023-07-23/dodger…
@claude ‘Adames was a one off by Posey as far as signing Qualifying free agents’
They’ve signed 3 in the past 2 years…
Posey didn’t sign the first 2. Zaidi did.
Posey didn’t sign the first 2. Zaidi did. So one off
I remember SO in Posey’s one offseason he’s signed one QO free agent. SO history shows that the Giants tend to sign at least one every year, for multiple years now…
Excellent signing
Not a bad signing in isolation, but man it really becomes a bummer when combined with the Adrian Houser signing and all the minor league deals. Hopefully this means a big signing for the team’s lineup, but I’m guessing it does not mean a big signing for the team’s lineup.
What a bummer of an offseason so far.
Both Houser and Mahle were good last year.
Oh please, these moves are pathetic unless they’re simply depth moves.
Whats pathetic is the entitlement of fans. Try to enjoy life.
Yep. Unbelievably pathetic. They also gave every Giants fan a heads up at the start of the off season. Multiple times from multiple people. Everyone knew this type of signing was the plan. Yet the tears still flow. So weird.
Not pathetic if it’s a one year deal
@foppert3 They also told us they are willing to pay over the luxury tax again this offseason for the right situation, after just one year of dipping under, to reset the penalties. That’s from Greg Johnson himself, who matters more than the words of writers who are just speculation, because of lack of real information.
There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal.
Not listening to writers. They told us directly that they aren’t going big. Multiple times. Johnson included.
People obviously chose to disregard the heads up. Now they are crying about the injustice of it all. Weird.
It seems like the Giants should be doing more to increase the ceiling of the team. They were 11th in the league in runs scored and 8th in runs allowed
Having between 77-81 wins each of the past 4 years and only 1 season over .500 in the past 9 seasons.
But there are lots of players still out there and Mahle would be a very good 4 or 5 in the rotation. So we’ll have to see what other moves they have in them. I could see them waiting to pounce on a 2 year opt out deal for a starter like Rodon and Snell previously. But another bat is probably a bigger need based on RS/RA.
Fop: Johnson also said similar things going into 2025. And then they went out and brought Devers here. Huge contract for a great hitter. That trade was and will be huge to us. So owners are going to say things. Doesn’t mean that what they say is necessarily going to happen. Buster is also part owner and will keep making moves that help the team short term and long term. I also think another move is still coming.
They always qualify there broad plan with a case by case opportunity won’t be ignored type statement. Like Devers. They don’t ignore outside the plan opportunity. Smart. This is the plan fans, but you never know what might transpire. Got to respect that. Imai might be one such situation. At the time of don’t get your hopes up he looked out of reach. Maybe not so much now if the market is cold for him. We’ll see. I still think Giant trade proposals are out there somewhere.
I enjoy life just fine, and I love the Giants. I just don’t think the moves so far move the needle. I watch (or am at) 150 Giants games a season. I know what I see and this team needs more than a Mahle to fill out its rotation.
foppert,
I usually agree with you but just because Greg Johnson wants to clamp down on the budget doesn’t mean there are no other options to making the team more competitive. Off season isn’t over but so far this team is not better than it was last year. Banking on two off-injured rotation arms is pie-in-the-sky thinking.
“I still think Giant trade proposals are out there somewhere..”
I agree with this.
They only ruled out 100m plus situations. They framed it around future flexibility issues rather than a clamp down. They aren’t short of long commitments. You can understand that concern.
Let’s wait and see. The main guy traders are going to be taking their time.
@foppert they did not ‘rule out 100m plus situations’. They said they ‘would be very careful about 100m+ contracts to SP’ in particular. Nothing said about position players.
They also said they are wiling to spend over the luxury tax again this year, for the right situation.
Tucker or Bader would not surprise me, considering they were in on Schwarber. They need another LH bat. Most of the Giants power hitters are right handed, Ramos, Adames, Chapman, Encarnacion…
Devers, Eldridge?
Great signing for SF.
solid low risk high reward deal
especially in a pitcher park like SF
Dumpster diving continues
All you post is negative comments on Giants articles. (By searching up “Guayacon mlbtraderumors.com”)
Lazy troll.
Pot, meet Kettle.
Steinbrenner’s routine is very funny.
Searching, scolding, and humor policing ?
Weird, but not very funny.
That is spot on, I couldn’t put together an accurate description of his manner but that is very close. He does make many sensical arguments against poorly constructed humorisms and bad takes. I find his combative and honest approach to be very funny.
Not funny when he tries to spin your words out of context and imply racism. Gets others to bandwagon.
I’ve never seen a positive, or even baseball post. Just always trying to stir up crap, and annoyingly repetitive
Those are the funniest bits. A nice interlude in the program, never lewd so Im on board with the diversions.
Ramos on the other hand was making comments about jerking off the other day, as in defiling himself, that kind of talk is outside my zone.
Disagree with the funniest bits, but unlike a lot of posters, I will not resort to name calling after a difference of opinion. Have a great night !
Crying and whining continues
Another miss on the contest!
Was Mahle on there?!
Near the end 48 ish
Victor Caratini is on there!!!!
I picked the Cubs to sign him. Dang.
This doesn’t take Giants out of Imai running. Roupp has options. Also, Ray is a free agent after 2026.
No reason to think they would sign Imai. Ray is gonna pitch for the Giants in 2026 and Roupp doesnt belong in AAA.
Opportunism is a reason. If he falls to a short term prove it deal they would be crazy not to be in there. You need about 10 starters. Not 5.
Roupp should not be sent down for these weak additions.
Yeah, this signing seems to round out the starting rotation, unless the Giants knows one of the 5 won’t be ready to start the year. Even then, unless that is a major injury not yet announced, they would more likely fill from within until the pitcher is ready.
Exactly right Dave. I’d like to see both Roupp and Whisenhunt develop more before we just hand them the expectation of being #2-4 starters in 2026. Depth will be key to how competitive we will be this upcoming season
Webb is the ace
Ray is the number 2
Houser and Mahle are the 3 and 4
Roupp is the number 5
Wisenhunt isnt starting unless someone gets hurt
Have to expect stints on the injured list for Mahle and others. Can follow the Dodgers model and keep a stable of arms parked on the IL at all times.
I dont disagree King. However, that’s the depth chart 45 days before pitchers even report for ST. Like a lot of other teams, 1 or 2 of our top 4 are hurt by mid-April nearly every season.
Houser and Ray are the most likely candidates this year, and while I hate to throw this into the ether, Webb has been unbelievably healthy his entire MLB career to this point. Plus our bullpen is notably weaker than the last couple years with Doval and Rogers gone and Randy hurt, so starters will have to go deeper.
The Giants have some depth in case of injuries. They can also go get someone at the deadline if needed. Like you said the pen is a concern. So is the everyday lineup. Thats where the focus is going to be on from here until opening day. I think thats obvious.
SD_SF_DET —
Roupp has been excellent. Probably could cut down a little on the BBs but he’s solid. Why would you send him down?
And he’s #3 in front of Hauser & Mahle.
Teams likely weren’t beating down the door to sign Mahle, so with Imai’s deadline so close, why not wait on Mahle if they were really in on Imai? The contract has to be signed and physical completed and reviewed by Friday at 5PM EST. Meaning he’s likely to sign today or tomorrow. It makes no sense to sign Mahle at this point if Imai is still in their plans.
Sadly, I doubt the Giants are even in on the bidding for Imai.
Don’t be sad. Just trust that a future first ballot HOF catcher can effectively evaluate pitching talent.
OK, then I’ll be sad now…but I expect to be happy later!
I have to regulate my emotions.
goob—
I think you’re right. What I read is that they see Imai as a questionable #3, and the Giants shouldn’t be paying big bucks for that arm if they think that’s the best he can be.
Also, Giants could sign Imai and trade Roupp for hitting.
That’s not my preference but if it makes the team better why not?
Giants could sign Imai and keep Roupp. These things always work themselves out thanks to inevitable injuries to someone
Landen Roupp >>>> Tatsuya Imai, by a significant margin.
Imai has a more expensive Tomoyuki Sugano written all over him.
Guess no Imai then?
Good signing if he stays healthy but he hasn’t had an injury free season since 2021. and that was his only full season of his career (well, except 2020 as that was a truncated season). He only has 5 seasons of a 100 or more IP and just one season of 130 or more IP.
I really hope the guys in AAA are ready to go for when Mahle inevitably hits the IL.
2.2 war, 168 era+, 16 games started last year.
I see the lure of signing him but the risk (in terms of him getting hurt) is high.
About the same odds as any pitcher about to throw a 90+ mph pitch with high spin rate.
This !
Anyone at anytime. No one knows.
Sorry for any Giants fans. Posey really handicapped by owners trying to increase their profits to even greater levels. Third place at best. Time to focus on 2028
Joel rhymes with troll.
If they put him in the pen he maybe able get to stay healthy. 12/25/86 innings pitched the last 3 years.
Although I personally like both Houser and Mahle, it’s still a bummer to think this precludes them from getting a bigger fish in the SP market. However, they still have plenty of unproven, young SP depth that should still get plenty of looks with the way roster is presently constructed. I can only hope the frugality on the rotation means funds could still be earmarked for an OF or 2B, but I can’t say I expect it
Unfortunately the 27M still owed to Snell & Melvin probably negates spending on both of those positions, but I still hope for Bo.
I’m confused why people are saying this is a great signing. Mahle hasn’t thrown over 100 innings since 2022.
I think because it was Buster and not Farhan
Exactly semut
Maybe as a bullpen arm. Lol
86 innings with a 2.18 ERA. What a terrible move.
Wah wah wah.
I had Tyler Mahle going to the Angels in the FA Contest. He was born and raised in Orange County and figured Anaheim would be a good landing spot for him and the Angels.
Depth signing, good if +120 IP for $10MM or less.
Teams have been saying that about him for 3 straight years.
Persist Mahledies?
Muhladies?
If the Giants believe in their minor league depth to cover for injury time, this is a decent gamble.
Looks like the Giants are only signing #3 or 4 SP’s with this signing of Mahle and the previous one of Adrian Houser. Not that this is a terrible thing, but maybe not the best use of resources. Mahle had a healthy season with the Reds back in ’21 and his numbers overall were pretty good in 33 GS: 13 wins, 158 HA, a 210/64 K/BB, and a 3.75/1.23 ERA/WHIP in 180 IP. He accrued a career best 4.9 (of his career 11.7) WAR during that prosperous campaign. And though it was reported his fast ball was down 2 MPH from his peak, his overall numbers were pretty enticing in 2025. And now he’s in a real pitcher’s park. Mahle is definitely a guy to keep an eye on this spring but I’m not going to get in a bidding war on him in NL-only. I’m sure there may be!
What an awful rotation, wouldn’t be surprised if they finish worse then the Rockies. If Webb goes down their season is over
Read it real quick and thought it said Marte.
Ooh wouldn’t that be great. But no, won’t happen within the division.
I know the math heads don’t like Mahle, but he’s good because he’s got a deep arsenal, and locates all of it. A poor man’s Maddux
Always injured.
Thank you Buster, good luck with this project and you’re saving Scott Harris and the Tigers from embarrassing themselves as they likely were about to sign him. If if gives the Giants 10 starts that may be a break even deal
This would be a good signing if the Giants sign an actual middle of the rotation guy and then Tyler Mahle could provide some innings and the farm provide the rest when he is injured. The Houser deal doesn’t make sense, would have much rather used that towards a better SP, defense in OF, or the bullpen.
They said from the beginning of the offseason that they wouldn’t invest seriously in the rotation – to those wondering why fans are still hoping for Imai, it’s because not seriously investing in the rotation doesn’t make sense for the lineup they’ve built, for the revenue they bring in, or for the division we play in.
When he’s healthy, he’s the top pitcher in the game as he showed last season.
Lol
Skenes had a better ERA. But just Skenes. Huh.
Buster is on a budget which is understandable after getting Chapman, Adames, and Devers. I would love to have one of the top FA arms in the rotation but Buster is playing his own version of moneyball and would rather commit to one year of 2 pitchers that will likely net the same value or possibly more than one highly priced ace. His last year playing in 2021 he got to see first hand what reclaimed pitchers like Gausman, Wood, and Desclafani could do in the right environment. He is going to look very smart if Houser or Mahle have good years.
If Farhan did this you would be screaming the house down with “doesn’t know baseball” xenophobic insults.
Dude. He’s just a screen name away from actually having a decent post for once.
Maybe there’s hope for the new year.
Fair call.
The inconsistency sh@ts me. All good when your name doesn’t start with a Z.
Good points FF.
Maybe they are not too impressed with this year’s TOR options. In my opinion not a bad strategy with Skubal hitting FA next year. Bay Area ties, Ray probably leaving.
Good chance to sign him, but they need to be aware of Tigers wanting to trade at the deadline also.
It’s like a knee jerk reaction for you to get defensive Fop like you have some shield to bear. Don’t get me wrong, these are FZ moves straight out of his first 3-4 years but he didnt start with building the offensive core like Buster just did. There was a decent offensive core in 2021 and we finally have one again for a full season for 2026. I think Tony V is going to get everything out of these guys and with a few good pitchers like Buster just signed he is kind of recreating the team he last played with. He may not be done yet either but even if he is, this team has plenty to be positive about. If you are a Giants fan and are upset trust me I get it but when they start winning games this year you will forget about the underwhelming offseason!
@frugal. Yeah it was. Fair criticism. I should be respecting the positivity. Noted.
Respect appreciated
I guess this is the poor man’s Glasnow? Great to have for contingency, but if this is the final addition to the rotation, it’s not enough. Come on Giants, if you’re going to imitate the Dodgers, do it properly. Use deferred money and go after Imai, Bichette, Bader and a closer.
Well at least Bichette.
8/250 should get it done.
It’s a one year contract that likely doesn’t break the bank in any way. There are worse pitchers they could have signed
Now that’s what I call a ringing endorsement.
Buster, please sign Imai. The guy has charisma the Giant’s need. The Giants need to create some buzz and start acting like they’re competing with the Dodgers.
Usually agree with your posts, but charisma is really not a good reason to sign a player. Unless that’s a new name for an actual 3rd pitch he has/needs.
gfan, the Giants ownership literally profits hundreds of millions of dollars every year, not only in revenue but in the always soaring value of their team and stadium. Their stadium was paid off in 2017 and for them to penny pinch, in my opinion, is insulting.
I think Imai is the best starting pitcher out there. Framber struggled badly in August and September last year. Suarez is a soft tosser, next is Gallen. They’re all good pitchers but look at Imai’s stats last year. 164 innings, 101 hits, 178 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. The Dodgers ownership spends their profits, the Giants ownership hoards theirs.
I just don’t think Imai is the answer.
Two pitch guy, (4 seam,Slider) 90% of the time. FB average just under 95MPH
MLB hitters will feast on that. Framber has big movement, not seeing that with Imai. His size is also a concern. Not seeing longevity. If Buster sees something I don’t I’m sure they will at least make a short term offer. Not gonna trip if they don’t though.
Good insights. There had to have been many red flags for him to have only gotten 3/56.
A lot of fans got sold on him, you’re not alone. Buster knows pitching though, and we have to trust that.
Good depth signing. Though if they expect him to actually hold down a spot in the rotation….
Better use a magnifying glass on his medicals and get multiple opinions on them. This guy does not have a confidence inspiring history when it comes to his history with the MLB IL,
Buster busy farhan’ing
Farhan is hiding in the back rooms of the front office somewhere.
I would normally laugh at this but my joke was better.
Who needs Imai? We got Tyler Mahle…whoever that is.
Every arm signed either did not pitch last season or missed time due to injury. Houser was the only one that once he took the ball was able to finish the season.
Lotsa negativity here. In 10,12,and 14, at various points, Giants looked very weak. In this free agent, musical chairs game, somebody will be left without a seat. Buster is keeping his powder dry.
Seems to get worse every offseason.
Impatience, speculation, and despair.
Folks just can’t kick back and let it happen.
Not really. Those pitching staffs in 2010 and 2012 were stacked. That’s not the case now. I would be surprised if Mahle and Ray are healthy by the end of the season given their history.
fred, Not so stacked as implied. The Giants had a solid top 3 in Timmy, Bum, and Cain, but even Timmy and Cain were shaky in 2014, and Timmy was shaky in 2012 as well. Vogelsong was coming back from Asia. Zito never really lived up to his contract. And Jonathon Sanchez was drafted in the 27th round.
The Giants supplemented those teams with guys like Todd Wellemeyer, Jake Peavy, and Tim Hudson, Those signings, along with Vogelsong, are comparable to the Hauser and Mahle signings.
The big difference was how healthy those rotations were. In 2010, 6 guys had 161 GS. In 2012, 5 guys had 161 GS. And in 2014 they used 7 guys for 161 GS. They probably can’t count on that in 2026.
Yeah, that’s why I said 2010 and 2012. The 2014 team limped into the playoffs and got hot at the right time, by far the worst team of the 3.
I agree the 2014 team was the weakest, but I still wouldn’t call the 2012 rotation stacked. They had a cooked Lincecum, and Zito as 2/3s of the rotation. Bum and Vogelsong both posted 105 ERA+s for the year. Only 2 other guys got a GS, Eric Hacker and Yusmeiro Petit with 1 each. Cain was the only real ace on that team.
You are making my point. Baseball is a funny game.
I’d put Buster’s baseball smarts up against Friedman any day. I admit that the Spectrum LA network money tilts the scales—- just a bit!
Probably a similar AAV to Houser. 1 year at $10-12 million. Maybe higher since it’s only 1 year.
Guess we’ll find that out next year.
i think lower maybe 7-8 a year and can get up to 10-12 with incentives
Ended up pretty much where I had it. $10M guarantee with potential for $13M after performance bonuses. Now we’ll see if he can stay healthy and beat regression.
Yup. You nailed it !
I’m sure the Giants adding Houser and Mahle has the Dodgers shaking in their boots.
Yeah they may need to sign Tucker and Bichette now to catch up to the giants.
Dodgers don’t wear boots.
Birkenstocks with socks more their style.
“The ERA estimators all suggest Mahle’s 2.18 ERA in 2025 should be viewed with skepticism. His xERA and xFIP were both above 4.00, while his SIERA was all the way up at 4.62. Mahle ran hot with home run luck (4.9% HR/FB), while also benefiting from a career-high 84.6% LOB%.”
These baseball nerds and their stats lmao. These mean absolutely nothing. Its ridiculous.
willful ignorance.
Pas Mahle
If he can stay healthy, he’s a solid arm. That said, he’s probably going to give you 15 to 20 starts so another arm is needed. Maybe Verlander or Scherzer?
Giants have been below 500 for a while now.time from a shakeup and the prospect pool isn’t phenomenal.trade ray,jh lee,ramos.sign tucker,trade for Roberts jr or duran,then sign another starter and yes I still see more potential in Roberts and Duran than lee and ramos.
Hey, hey it’s time to play; Guess the DFA !
Incredibly disappointing and uninteresting off- season so far. Do better, Giants.
In Buster we trust. There’s a plan at play.
Go 49ers!!!
Posey talked a big game at the start of the offseason but Johnson shut him down. Since then all they have done is sign cheap players. Not really showing any intention of contending against the Dodgers and Padres. Expected if you are an Angels fan, but not a good sign if you are a fan of the high revenue Giants.
Ha ha. Go Pads Fan. Really ? Still running with the hilarious Angels fan schtick on this account ? Do you think you might be overdoing this attempt at deception ? You know, like maybe write one outinleftfield post that doesn’t proclaim he is an angels fan. Maybe the attempt at deception won’t be so obvious.
Does Fappert not know I muted him? Is he really that stupid?
Of course I know. But yes, I really am that stupid. I could only hope for your level of intellectual genius. As evidenced by your hysterical multi account shenanigans.
Carry on. I’ll be here mocking you.
He muted “fappert” not “foppert”. Who is stupid here?
You showed him buddy, you showed him. Anyone else who wants some can get the mute button too.
Sign bichet and Valdez and this team will be competitive
They don’t care about being competitive
Sure, but I think both are unlikely.
This story has been promoted and repeated several times. Why? Because it’s the Giants? We knew he was signed 5 days ago yet it’s repeated 2 or 3 times.
Have the Giants improved their team? I don’t see it. They traded away a good bullpen at last years deadline and now they’ve added back. They’re still a .500 team
shaft, Are you new to this site? It’s SOP to update, and repost when any deal becomes official, when there’s any new info on the terms, or the corresponding roster move is made. MLBTR does that for every deal/team.
Will repost one more time after Brubaker gets DFA’d.
Pitch to contact type who doesn’t get a ton of ground balls. Oracle is potentially a good spot for him. Or any pitcher probably.