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.