3 veteran relievers (including a familiar face) SF Giants can still scoop up

Opening Night is almost here, but the SF Giants showed with their decision to pick up left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki that they are not entirely done making moves. With the bullpen still the team’s biggest question mark coming into the season, there are a couple of veteran relievers the Giants could still scoop up to pad the depth chart.

The Giants will probably break camp with eight relief arms. After the Borucki addition they have quite a bit of depth with their left-handed pitching. Erik Miller, who is healthy again, figures to be the high-leverage lefty in the ‘pen but Matt Gage and Borucki also have a good chance to make the team. Plus, whenever Sam Hentges gets healthy that gives the team another left-handed option.

The Giants obviously have plenty of right-handed options as well, but maybe a couple more righties in the mix would make the Giants feel a bit better about the current state of the bullpen.

3 veteran relievers SF Giants should think about signing

Liam Hendriks

The Minnesota Twins just released Hendriks. The 37-year-old was once an elite All-Star closer for both the A’s and the Chicago White Sox. Unfortunately, injuries have really hampered him in recent seasons.

Last season with the Boston Red Sox he had a 6.59 ERA in 14 appearances. He looked decent in spring training with the Twins, allowing three earned runs in seven innings of work so he could be worth taking a chance on.

Andrew Chafin

Yet another reliever the Twins just released, Chafin could provide even more left-handed depth. Last season with the Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals he had a 2.41 ERA in 42 appearances.

He looked good in spring training as well so maybe the Giants would entertain adding another lefty into the mix.

Hunter Strickland

Here’s that familiar face. Strickland has had himself a nice career after his days with the Giants ended. He was solid each of the last two seasons with the Angels and allowed just one run in five innings of work in spring training but LA decided to cut him.

Maybe there’s too much baggage to seriously entertain a reunion, but he can get outs so the Giants could be smart to add that depth.

San Francisco’s bullpen is likely to evolve and change a lot over the course of the season. They should load up on as many arms as possible entering the season so they can cycle through guys and figure out which combination of arms works best.