San Francisco Giants: Reyes Moronta Should Be the Closer in 2019

The San Francisco Giants are trying to rebuild their franchise from the major league club all the way through the minor league system.

As the San Francisco Giants head into 2019, one factor is abundantly clear: the bullpen could be excellent.

The Giants announced that Ray Black and Tyler Beede were being optioned earlier this week, and that, alone, proves the depth of the bullpen. Black throws upwards of 100 miles per hour and has improved his control of his secondary pitches. Beede had one of the most impressive camps of any pitcher in the system and the former first round pick could help the Giants win games at the big league level now.

Both were sent down, partially because they have options and the Giants are worried about losing some of the their bullpen arms. But also, because, the Giants have more pitching depth than they’ve had in a long, long time.

In the days of the “core four” the Giants were top heavy in the pen, but it was as elite as we have ever seen.

Now, the team has talent all over the place, and Reyes Moronta is as talented as they come.

The second year reliever looks even better in Spring training than he did last year. In his rookie season, Moronta shined in an otherwise forgettable year for San Francisco.

With the depth the Giants possess and the holes the team still has elsewhere, trading some of their veteran bullpen arms makes sense. While Moronta could win the closer job anyway, trading Will Smith, Tony Watson, or Sam Dyson would clear a path for Moronta to take over the reigns.

Smith and Watson have been in trade rumors all off-season and Dyson is on a one year deal at over $4 million. Smith and Watson both are set to become free agents after the season and Dyson will enter his fourth year of arbitration, which will only get more expensive. Then, there is Mark Melancon, a former closer, who is still owed $28 million over the next two years. Melancon may need to be released to make room for some of the non roster invitees who have impressed in camp. Trevor Gott, Nick Vincent and Rule 5 pick Travis Bergen all seem like strong additions to an already stacked staff.

Moronta looks as impressive as any and moving some players around to make him the closer sooner rather than later makes sense going forward.