The Giants have signed right-hander Rowan Wick to a one-year major league deal, the team announced. The agreement includes a club option for 2027. Wick is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to pitch this season. The team has not announced a corresponding move.
The 33-year-old Wick returns stateside after spending the past two seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He was excellent out of the bullpen during his time in NPB, recording a 1.75 ERA across 87 2/3 innings. Wick secured five saves last season with the BayStars. He’ll look to impact the San Francisco bullpen next year as he continues to rehab from TJ.
The majority of Wick’s big-league experience has come with the Cubs. He was traded to Chicago straight up for Jason Vosler after a brief stint with the Padres. Wick was a semi-regular in the Cubs’ bullpen from 2019 to 2021. He emerged as the team’s closer in 2022. Wick notched a career-high nine saves that season, but faltered down the stretch and lost some opportunities to trade deadline acquisition David Robertson.
Wick began the 2023 season in the minors. The Cubs would release him in July. He bounced to the Braves and then the Blue Jays, but never made it back to the majors. After posting a 6.66 ERA at Triple-A, he made the jump to NPB.
San Francisco has a history of signing injured pitchers with the intention of getting contributions once they recover. The strategy has continued even after Buster Posey took over as president of baseball operations. The club added right-hander Jason Foley in December. He’s coming back from shoulder surgery and is a candidate to begin the year on the 60-day IL. San Francisco also signed Sam Hentges this offseason. The lefty hasn’t pitched since 2024 following shoulder and knee surgery, but could be ready for the start of this season.
Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images
Dude is gonna get lit up.
Wick will flame out. 🔥
TAKE THAT!
Typical Giants move. Throwing away money to a pitcher coming off TJ surgery who won’t pitch any time soon.
Yeah, totally didn’t work out with Robbie Ray. Oh wait…
But when the bullpen needs help this season, signing a guy who won’t pitch this season seems like a waste.
Seattle received negative WAR from Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani.
But they did make the post-season. 😉
it is just locking a guy down in hopes that you can either trade or use him next year. He probably isn;t making much, it is the same as signing a minor league deal except he is guaranteed stuff like healthcare, he is just going to float on the 60 day all year
Who is Rowan Wick? I remember I had a friend called Rowan. Not the same person though.
Giants building a bullpen for 2028.
34 years old next season, coming off of TJ surgery. What could go wrong
He’s gonna make the National League pay for what they did to his dog!
Lots of question marks with him between the age,injury, and coming back from Japan. I like seeing guys come back and do well so wishing him the best in 2027 but this really is a tough signing to judge.