Giants: Biggest takeaways from Will Smith signing with Braves

Who will close games for the San Francisco Giants in 2020?

The Giants bullpen will have a decidedly different look next season.

Along with Smith’s departure, Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson and Drew Pomeranz were all traded at the deadline, while Reyes Moronta is expected to miss significant time recovering from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Here’s a look at the projected Opening Day bullpen as the roster currently stands, courtesy of Roster Resource:

• LR Dereck Rodriguez
• MR Wandy Peralta (L)
• MR Trevor Gott
• MR Sam Coonrod
• MR Tyler Rogers
• SU Jandel Gustave
• SU Tony Watson (L)
• CL Shaun Anderson

The makeup of that relief corps can certainly be debated, but the overall construction speaks to a glaring need for experienced arms.

Whether it’s a wide net of low-risk veterans signed to minor league contracts, a run at one of the market’s high-risk, high-reward injury-returnees like Dellin Betances or Arodys Vizcaino, or more of a low-risk free-agent signing to add some stability, expect at least a few outside additions.

If the team doesn’t find a new closer, Shaun Anderson could get the first crack at the job. While he’s been developed as a starter, he pitched out of the Florida Gators bullpen in college and showed well after a late move to the pen last year.

Even if the Giants decide against spending big this winter, solidifying the bullpen behind a young rotation will be important for the staff’s long-term development.

Now that Will Smith has joined the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants have some work to do figuring out who will be taking the mound for save chances in 2020.