Latest SF Giants signing could push at least 1 young pitcher out of the rotation

The SF Giants have reportedly agreed to a surprising deal, signing future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to a one-year deal. The move could bump one of Kyle Harrison or Hayden Birdsong out of the rotation for now.

Latest SF Giants signing could push at least 1 young pitcher out of the rotation

This signing does fall in line with what we discussed over the weekend in that the goal of adding to the rotation has shifted from improvement to insurance. Verlander is coming off of a season in which he posted a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for the Houston Astros.

The Giants needed innings and this move achieves this goal. Verlander also might soak up some starts as well. It is easy to forget that there are 162 starts in a season. Teams do not rely on just five starters for an entire year anymore. They mix-and-match as needed while also deploying openers and bullpen games.

Perhaps, the 2012 Giants rotation was one of the last of a different era. Five starters combined to make 160 starts that year. 16 pitchers made starts for the Giants last year with seven non-openers making at least eight starts.

Verlander is penciled into the rotation along with Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Jordan Hicks. This could leave Birdsong and Harrison competing for a rotation spot in spring training. Plus, it could mean fewer opportunities for someone like Landen Roupp or Carson Whisenhunt. It bears mentioning that Roupp had a nice finish to the year.

Fewer opportunities do not mean no opportunities whatsoever. Plus, this assumes that there will be no injuries. Verlander missed time with a neck injury last season. Ray and Hicks made seven and 20 starts, respectively.

The Giants still have a gap to fill but the Verlander signing does not fully block anyone from appearing in the rotation. There is a good chance that Harrison, Birdsong, and Hicks are on some type of innings restriction in 2025 anyway.

Generously assuming that Webb, Verlander, and Webb make 90 combined starts next year, that leaves 72 starts remaining. The Giants could divide that evenly between the other three options.

Of course, baseball is a difficult game to predict. The best models fail most times. Injuries and underperformance happen, creating opportunities for the next player.

While the Verlander signing fills a spot in the rotation, there will be plenty of other opportunities as well for young pitchers like Harrison and Birdsong.