Another free agent domino falls in SF Giants' crucial area of need

It’s no secret that the SF Giants have set a high priority to overhaul their bullpen this offseason. While the Giants have openly expressed their need to rebuild the bullpen as a whole, the specific role as the team’s closer is still yet to be determined. The signing of Devin Williams by the New York Mets has removed another option at the position.

SF Giants must look elsewhere with closer Devin Williams off the board

The Giants were rumored to have interest in Williams which makes sense given the team's need for a bullpen makeover. After last season when all of their best relievers either got hurt or were traded away, the Giants have their work cut out for them to piece together a reliable bullpen.

Giants fans would do well to remember from experience that high-priced closers are a volatile proposition, and two of the biggest dominos that have fallen might not have been worth it anyways. The going rate of $14-17 million per year for free agent closers so far this offseason may have priced the Giants out of playing in that pool.

President of baseball operations Buster Posey has already indicated that instead of spending big on the free agent market for an end of game stopper, they might see what they have in a spring training competition. However, that doesn’t remove the need to add high leverage arms.

While fans should be thankful for the under the radar Thanksgiving signing of Sam Hentges, who gives the team more lefty depth, they’re still chomping at the bit to see a significant signing to take on the later innings of games.

Many solid arms are still available, but three of the top five available relievers according to WAR have already been signed. The top two are Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez, both of whom will most likely command multiple years and may surpass the range already garnered by Williams and Helsley.

Old friends like Tyler Rogers and Jakob Junis might provide a couple of late inning relief options, while premier closing options like Luke Weaver and Pete Fairbanks might be able to be had for more reasonable prices.

With the winter meetings just a week away, the Giants still have a lot of work to do building a playoff caliber bullpen. That must be anchored with figuring out their closer situation which is going to be important given San Francisco's brand of playing a lot of tight, one-run games.