One offseason need highlights that the SF Giants front office does not plan to rebuild or retool

After a disastrous 65-win season, the SF Giants will hope for better results in 2027. Their plan to upgrade the bullpen could be a sign that this front office does not intend to rebuild or retool.

Should they is a different story. They will need a lot of things to fall in their favor to even win 80 games next year. John Shea of The San Francisco Standard makes a good case that the Giants should focus on development in 2027, in the hopes of retooling for the following year.

Rebuilding or retooling is not a phrase the Giants' front office likes to use, especially when the organization has tickets to sell. Attendance remained robust this past season, even if it waned down the stretch, but the idea of a rebuild will not get fans to attend the game.

The front office believes the Giants can be competitive next year. They would not say anything differently, but one offseason priority highlights that belief and that is trying to upgrade the bullpen.

In the post-mortem press conference, Buster Posey took the blame for the bullpen woes and stated that this would be an area they plan to address. In fact, he told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area that it would be the first place that they plan to improve.

The bullpen needs to be improved. That was the case last offseason, but the front office did little to address it, and it backfired spectacularly.

Making upgrading the bullpen a priority is a sign that the SF Giants front office believes they can compete in 2027

Interestingly, upgrading a bullpen is a task that good teams prioritize. Addressing a struggling bullpen is often much different for a 65-win team. That approach usually involves scouring minor league free agency or the non-tender market to find upgrades. These teams do not go out and spend a lot of money on a high-priced reliever.

To some extent, the Giants did that last year. Caleb Kilian and Gregory Santos were some of the notable players added on minor league deals. Jason Foley and Sam Hentges were non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, respectively.

Smart front offices can often find good value in these markets, but at a certain point, they need to invest in a high-leverage reliever or two to raise the ceiling of that unit. The Giants appear intent on making that investment this time around.

Adrián Morejón and Raisel Iglesias will be some of the top free-agent relievers available. The Giants might not be shopping at that level of the market. That said, Iglesias on a short-term deal could be one of the better values of the offseason.

David Bednar of the New York Yankees will also be a popualr reliever in free agency. The Giants have an obvious connection here, given that his brother, Will, is in the farm system at the moment.

Nevertheless, the front office plans to upgrade the bullpen this offseason. That is an obvious need. However, given that it is one of their top priorities could be taken as a sign that the front office believes they can compete. A rebuilding team does not often make the bullpen a priority. That is an approach that more competitive teams focus on.

The Giants may need to show improvement next year, as Buster Posey is entering a potential lame-duck season. His job and the jobs of Zack Minasian and Tony Vitello might be on the line.

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