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Possible Offseason Targets for the San Francisco Giants: Steve Cishek

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Pitcher Steve Cishek #33 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 15, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 15: Pitcher Steve Cishek #33 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 15, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

Through the month of October we’ll look at several different targets this offseason that the San Francisco Giants could possibly pursue, continuing with Steve Cishek.

The San Francisco Giants are going to have to find more bullpen help this offseason, but they can’t afford to throw another $15 million-plus at another relief pitcher. So they’ll have to find some help from the second tier of relief pitchers available.

I think Steve Cishek fits into that category and could be a good fit for the Giants.

The 31-year-old righty has been a very good relief pitcher for a while now.

In his first full season back in 2011 he had a 2.63 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts.

He put up similar numbers in 2012, and he was the Marlins closer the entire year in 2013. That season he had a 2.33 ERA in 69.2 innings pitched with 74 strikeouts.

Even though his ERA went up in 2014, he become more dominant with 84 strikeouts in 65.1 innings.

Cishek took a step back with the Marlins in 2015 and was traded to St. Louis where he got back on track.

He spent all of 2016 with the Mariners where he had a 2.81 ERA in 64 innings with 76 strikeouts and 25 saves.

This past season he had a 3.01 ERA in 20 innings for the Mariners, but then was dominant for the Tampa Bay Rays posting a 1.09 ERA in 24.2 innings.

In his eight year career he has a 2.73 ERA in 421.2 innings pitched with 449 strikeouts. He has a career WHIP of 1.16 and a K/9 of 9.6.

I don’t know why Cishek keeps getting passed around, but he’s been a very reliable relief pitcher for a while now. He is certainly someone the Giants could use in the back end of their bullpen, and I think they can get him at a discounted price.

It would likely take at least two years and around $7-$8 million a year to sign him.

Next: Possible Offseason Targets for the San Francisco Giants: Jay Bruce

The Giants have to make some changes in the bullpen, and I hope they are aggresive enough to go out and sign an arm like Cishek.

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