Posey hints SF Giants may be done making moves after Rogers trade

When it was announced that the SF Giants were trading left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers to the Cincinnati Reds, there was immediate speculation that this was a prelude to another move. Buster Posey's recent comments suggest that may not be the case.

Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic posted on the social media site Bluesky that he spoke with Posey, the team's president of baseball operations, about the Rogers trade and Posey did not suggest this move was to free up money to make another move, saying, "We'll keep looking. I will say, we feel pretty set with the roster the way it is right now." Baggarly's full article on the trade can be viewed here (subscription required).

Posey suggests SF Giants could be done making moves after the Taylor Rogers trade

This immediately upset some fans because ultimately the move seems more like a cost-cutting manuever rather than an attempt to make the team better in 2025. Posey said that the move was to give younger arms an opportunity, but it really seems like a way to save $6 million with the Reds agreeing to pay for half of Rogers' 2025 contract while the Giants are still responsible for the other $6 million.

Of course, Posey could be bluffing when he says he feels like the roster is fairly set. Perhaps this is a prelude to another move but he does not want to tip his cards just yet. Posey has been pretty straightforward in his new role though, so perhaps we would be wiser to take him at his word if he says the team is mostly done adding.

This move deserves to be questioned though if it is not followed by another move. As of right now, this trade makes the Giants worse in 2025. Rogers may not be the elite late-inning reliever the Giants were hoping for when they signed him, but his 2.40 ERA in 60 innings pitched last season is very respectable. Why not keep Rogers for at least the first half of 2025 and trade him at the deadline when other teams may be looking for a veteran left-handed reliever like him?

Instead, the Giants traded him for minor-league pitcher Braxton Roxby whose numbers have been mediocre at best in the minors. Perhaps if the Giants had waited longer they could have gotten more for Rogers.

On paper, the Giants should still have a solid bullpen. Ryan Walker is the clear closer with Tyler Rogers, Taylor's twin, as the setup man in the 8th with Camilo Doval looking like a strong candidate for 7th inning duties despite his struggles in 2024. Yet, relievers are a notoriously fickle breed. It is not a bad idea to have some extra depth even if Rogers' $12 million salary for 2025 was a bit steep considering he was rarely used in high leverage spots.

Nonetheless, if Posey is telling the truth that the Giants are done making moves then many fans will be upset that the Giants are already making salary dump moves before the season even begins.