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. 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 2024, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Giants are goin for it!!!
I assume you’re being facetious.
Don’t assume anything. Hopefully Imai is next for you guys.
Maybe they can get him at 2/45M
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.
lol at “miracle”.
Miracle is being kind.
That’s more than the last 3 years combined.
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
Surprised he didn’t follow Maddux to Anaheim.
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.
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.
Another miss on the contest!
Was Mahle on there?!
Near the end 48 ish
Victor Caratini is on there!!!!
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.
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.
Also, Giants could sign Imai and trade Roupp for hitting.
That’s not my preference but if it makes the team better why not?
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
I’m confused why people are saying this is a great signing. Mahle hasn’t thrown over 100 innings since 2022.
Maybe as a bullpen arm. Lol
86 innings with a 2.18 ERA. What a terrible move.
Wah wah wah.
Depth signing, good if +120 IP for $10MM or less.
Teams have been saying that about him for 3 straight years.
Persist Mahledies?
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.
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
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