Giants: Who will replace All-Star Will Smith in the closer’s role?

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 15: Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates beating the Milwaukee Brewers and getting the save at Oracle Park on June 15, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Now that Will Smith has joined the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants are on the hunt for a new closer. Who could fill the void?

The save leaders for the San Francisco Giants last year were Will Smith with 34, followed by Sam Dyson and Shaun Anderson with two apiece.

Now that Smith has joined that Atlanta Braves on a three-year deal and the door has slammed shut on a potential reunion, the question becomes who will replace him in the closer’s role.

Dyson was traded to the Minnesota Twins at the deadline, while Anderson showed some flashes but finished his rookie season with a 5.44 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 16 starts and 12 relief appearances.

Given the current roster outlook, it is fair to presume that the San Francisco Giants are in search of their next closer.

Smith pitched so well in 2019, logging a 2.76 ERA and a career-best 13.2 K/9 in 63 appearances, earning a spot on the NL All-Star team in the process. Finding his replacement will certainly prove to be a challenge for team president Farhan Zaidi and new manager Gabe Kapler.

Bona fide closers are few and far between. Even Smith was considered more of a setup man prior to the 2019 season, so finding a suitable replacement will be no easy task.

Ahead we’ve taken a look at some potential options to fill the closer void, but in-house and on the free-agent market.