Looking at the remaining rotation options for the SF Giants with spring training looming

Opening day is just over 50 days away, and the SF Giants still have a question mark for their fifth starter. With some solid arms still available in free agency, the SF Giants need to make a decision about how to round out their rotation.

Looking at the remaining rotation options for the SF Giants with spring training looming

Signing a free agent does seem like the immediate answer. Framber Valdez offers immediate relief to the question mark in the rotation. Coming off another solid year with Houston boasting a 4+ WAR and a 3.66 ERA, the 32 year old would mesh nicely with a rotation and bullpen dominated by righties.

The question is whether or not the front office would be willing to pay a big contract, as many outlets predict his average annual value will be over $30 million, but with the lockout looming it's unlikely this front office would be willing to pay the money Valdez is looking for in a short term deal. With his age soon to be a factor, it doesn't sound like a great idea to sign Valdez to a long term deal where he very may be loosing juice at the end of it. While the signing would bring several wins to the plate its hard to imagine this team friendly front office getting the deal done.

Another free agent name the SF Giants should have a close eye on is Zac Gallen. Yes, he is coming off his worst year so far, but it is curious that there haven't been any rumors about interest from the SF Giants. He's the type of signing that this front office would love. You won't have to spend an inordinate amount of money to get him, and it's likely you could get him on a 2-year deal with an opt-out after the first season. So really more like a one-year prove it deal woth the option to keep him if he does well. A low risk high reward scenario, and if he doesn't pan out, Gallen could really boost the rotation.

Now it could very well be the case that the SF Giants front office is hedging their bets and turning inwards to solve the missing piece. Now you might want to cover your ears for this next part as it's not exactly going to be what most fans want to hear.

It is entirely possible that the front office sees their division rivals are favorites to three-peat, and with a lockout being very likely in 2027, that they will turn to the talent they have been developing and ask them to fill the gap in the rotation.

So far, we have only seen one to two year deals worth $10-20 million dollars, that on paper, benefit the Giants greatly. Two pitchers coming off of good seasons and a defensive glove are who the front office have prioritized.

Following this trend, it would be unlikely for the SF Giants to go make a major signing a matter of months before the beggining of the season. While this may sting right now it could be the right decision. Maybe the SF Giants want to take this year to let Hayden Birdsong and Carson Wisenhunt fully develop, and they can use them as trade pieces down the road. Or maybe one of them becomes a mainstay and this coming season is the shot that they needed. Maybe the SF Giants aren't going to make a big free agent signing because they want to see what they really have in Blade Tidwell, who will proverbially collect dust if not given a shot.

With each passing day, it seems that the ladder is the direction that the SF Giants are heading for the 2027 season, and honestly it seems like a calculated move.

As a fan its hard not to take the win-now mindset, but there are some obvious road blocks in the way this year for the SF Giants. Of course we want them to compete, and another season of 81 win ball isn't going to satiate anyones pallet espcially with the lock seeming more likely. Rome was not built in a day, and we know Buster Posey is an oppertunistic POB as we saw with the Rafael Devers trade last season. So keep the faith Giants fans, and enjoy the ride, even if its bumpy.