The Giants announced a number of non-roster invitees to spring training today, with Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle among those to pass them along. Most of the players were already in the organization or their signings had been previously reported but right-hander Michael Fulmer and outfielder Jared Oliva were new names. Fulmer is represented by BBI Sports Group and Oliva the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Fulmer, 33 in March, has had periods of major league success but also lengthy injury interruptions. He was a rotation staple for the Tigers from 2016 to 2018, winning American League Rookie of the Year in the first of those seasons, but then Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2019. When he returned, he struggled and got moved to the bullpen. He was a fairly effective reliever from 2021 to 2023 but then required a revision surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament, wiping out his 2024.
He was back on the mound in 2025 but was mostly stuck in the minors. He briefly got called up to the big leagues by the Red Sox and the Cubs but only made three appearances between those two teams. He pitched in Triple-A for those two clubs as well as the Mariners and Royals last year, throwing a total of 66 1/3 innings with a combined 3.39 earned run average. His 10.5% walk rate was a bit high but he struck out 31% of batters faced.
The San Francisco bullpen looks notably weaker than it did just a few months ago. They traded away Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval at the trade deadline, then Randy Rodríguez required Tommy John surgery in September. They haven’t really made any moves to strengthen the group apart from making buy-low investments in injury reclamation projects like Sam Hentges and Jason Foley.
Fulmer joins Gregory Santos as experienced non-roster depth and will try to pitch his way into a return to a regular big league role. From 2021 to 2023, Fulmer made 177 appearances with a 3.55 ERA, 24.6% strikeout rate, 9.4% walk rate and 40% ground ball rate.
Oliva, 30, has a major league track record consisting of 26 games for the Pirates over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He stepped to the plate 59 times and produced a .179/.220/.214 line. He spent last year with the Brewers on a minor league deal and hit .252/.335/.413. He’s generally been good for double-digit steals throughout his minor league career and swiped 57 bags last year.
The Giants project to have a regular outfield consisting of Harrison Bader, Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos, with Jerar Encarnación, Drew Gilbert, Luis Matos, Grant McCray and others in the mix for bench/depth roles. If some playing time opens up, perhaps Oliva’s base running skills can help him earn a bench job. If he eventually gets a roster spot, he still has options.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
solid signing for the risk involved
Excited to see Bo Davidson this year in ST as an invitee, along with Parks Harber.
Have a gut instinct that Parks Harber will be on the SF MLB bench by September! Am I the only Giants fan who chooses a long-shot farmhand to root for each offseason?
I was hoping the Red Sox would give him a longer look last season as a reliever. His spring training and AAA numbers were solid before he got called up. He’s known to be a good dude who is involved in a lot of charitable causes, so I’m rooting for him.
Spring Training invite gives Davidson & Harber have an opportunity to open eyes & improving their chances for moving up
I’d like to see Bo replace Heliot next year.
Harber looks to be at least a good trade chip, or our next utility guy.
Giants fans will back a guy like Meckler and Drew Gilbert but look to replace an AllStar like Ramos. Makes no sense
Meckler, never was a fan of.
Gilbert, too small of sample to rate.
I like Ramos, but think he’s more suited for DH, or a nice trade. I think Davidson might really end up a better option.
Maybe some Giants’ fans backed Meckler, and have hope for Gilbert, but certainly not all. The Meckler DFA didn’t bother me in the slightest. And as oldgfan pointed out it’s too soon to know much about Gilbert.
A lot of Giants’ fans can look at the players objectively, and see Ramos as a guy who’s had just 1 1/2 good seasons. Was terrible at the plate for the second half last season (.674 OPS). And was a defensive liability in LF last season.
What makes sense is being concerned that his drop off in production is a trend. Plus, worry that pitchers have found a hole in his swing, and that he hasn’t made the adjustments.
Not to mention, all you gotta do is YouTube Bo Davidsons 2025 highlights, and you will see what’s up.
Yeah, I’m looking forward to what Bo shows us in ST. I have to think though, if we see him in 2026, it will be more like late season unless something untoward happens.
Pirates legend Jared Oliva
Take that!
I wouldn’t mind seeing Santos back on the southside.
If he ends up making the team, sounds like he could be a valuable swing-man.
With the state of the Giants bullpen, Fullmer might end up as closer lol. Crazier things have happened.
Personally, I’m hoping that one of the young arms steps up and seizes the closer role. Hayden Birdsong, maybe?
Or perhaps Justin Verlander is re-signed, and Roupp is used in the closer role? He certainly has the raw stuff for it.
Any other internal candidates to close, besides Walker. Peguero, maybe?
Peguero, Walker, Maybe even Mahle.
Birdsong might surprise everyone and make the rotation again. By the end of the year it’s probably Foley to close if all goes well in his recovery. I really don’t think the bullpen is a problem, plenty of options, and young arms available. Good competition in ST for a few spots. There’s bound to be a success story upcoming.
Appreciate your optimism, wish I shared it! Definitely lots of opportunities for young arms in the Giants pen, which is projected to be MLB’s worst relief corps. Not really a lot of set roles. Hopefully there are some surprising success stories.
Projections are unreliable. They’re based on past performance, and there’s so little data to use for all the young arms. The lack of experience is factored in as a negative.
Posey and the FO apparently like what they have. I doubt they’d have traded away the guys they did, and not signed more bullpen arms, if they didn’t think at least a few of the young guys would step up.
Or, Giants ownership is just being cheap, and not letting Posey & Co. spend on more relief arms. The rotation is paper-thin, the bullpen depth non-existent, and the overall lack of proven lefties on the staff is astonishing.
For the rotation, I see value in re-signing Justin Verlander as a “sixth starter” type. And for the bullpen, veteran arms like: Tyler Anderson, Patrick Corbin, or Jose Quintana might excel in relief roles.
That being said, I too am hopeful about the Giants young arms; Birdsong and Whisenhunt especially. Peguero looked good last September. Let’s see how it all plays out. Go Giants!
We have differing opinions and we’ll just have to disagree. I don’t agree that the rotation is paper-thin, or the bullpen depth non-existent.
That was my point. They have a bunch of depth, and MiL arms capable of starting, Beck, Birdsong, Seymour, Whisenhunt, and McDonald, if one of the 5 falter. Any of them could also bolster the pen.
And I think all are better options than Anderson, Corbin, and Quintana. Anderson is 36 and has been 5% worst than league average over the last seasons. Corbin, also 36 has been worse, 21% below league average over the last 3. Quintana’s been better, but is even older and isn’t really much of an upgrade.
It makes no sense that ownership would greenlight the Chapman extension, the Adames signing, and the Devers’ acquisition, only to cheap out. I think Posey has the power to spend, but doesn’t see value in doing so.
Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out! My thinking with these older guys was that if used in shorter bursts (1-2 inning relief appearances), their stuff would play better.
We might just get a Max Scherzer signing before all is said and done. Mad Max as closer would be a trip. Although I’m sure he would be used more as a spot-starer, with lots of phantom IL stints to keep the overall innings down.
At the end of the day, it is more exciting to give the innings to young arms with upside. Let’ hope the young guns on the Giants can rise to the challenge!
No thanks on Sherzer. Been there, tried that with Verlander. Birdsong has been in camp since November, and word is they have him dialed in.
If he doesn’t make the rotation he’s at least going to be an impact arm in the bullpen. TMac and Tidwell finished strong last year. Seymour can develop into a nice pen guy if someone tells him to stop throwing the high fastball, and lean into the sinker. Santos, Sanchez, and others have been given a chance to claim a spot too. So many options, chances are good a couple step up and shine.
I’m high on Birdsong as well. Think he has the stuff to become a dominant closer, if he can find the moxie.
Tidwell finished the year injured, otherwise he would’ve gotten a few turns in the SF rotation. I”m really looking forward to seeing what this kid can do. MacDonald also put up solid numbers, and flashed potential.
There’s certainly a lot of options. Obviously, the key is not just making it to the big leagues, but excelling. A whole bullpen of Spencer Bivens would be meh. As stated before, it will be fun to see which young guys rise to the challenge!
I thought Verlander did a solid job last season, and I expect Max to do the same. But I just don’t see room for Max.
I think health is a factor in how the Giants pitching staff performs. If Mahle and Houser stay healthy they might actually have an abundance of SPs. Max also would bring another health question mark.
But even if both suffer from injuries, I think they’ve got enough to cover. I was very encouraged by McDonald last season, and really hope he gets some starts.
I actually liked what I saw from Kai-Wei Teng last season. He had some great starts, but allowed things get out of control. That suggested to me he had the stuff, but just needed to gain some knowledge and experience. The Astros seem to like him. The fact that Posey was willing to trade him away says to me, he thinks there’s enough depth.
I had the same thoughts on that trade. Either that or there was an upcoming trade or signing. Since that hasn’t happened, you are right.
I’m curious to see if Posey has any plans with the 11M or so that remains under the luxury tax penalty point.