Four Former SF Giants relievers still available in free agency

The SF Giants had a very solid and dependable bullpen in the 2021 season despite a rocky start with a number of blown saves early in the season. Whenever baseball starts in 2022, they will have many of the same core relievers that helped them on their way to 107 wins and an NL West title.

Four Former SF Giants relievers still available in free agency

However, that does not mean that there aren't options out there that could help improve a bullpen that may have over-performed in 2021. In fact, there are several former SF Giants who are available in free agency who each could have something to contribute to the club in 2022.

It may not be very likely that any of these former SF Giants will end up signing with the team after the MLB lockout is over, but it is worth examining whether any of these potential deals make sense for the team.

1. Hunter Strickland

Don't click away already, hear me out. Most SF Giants fans will remember Hunter Strickland for two things: giving up a bunch of homers in the 2014 postseason and starting a stupid brawl back in 2017 by throwing at Bryce Harper.

This is a fair recollection of his time in San Francisco, but I like to remember Strickland as a misunderstood, angry man who may be better suited as a woodsman and who just so happened to record the save in the 18 inning game against the Nationals in the 2014 NLDS which was key in their run to the title that year.

Many people also forget that Strickland put up solid numbers as a Giant. From 2015-2018, his regular season ERA in each season respectively was: 2.45; 3.10; 2.64; 3.97. Those are respectable numbers that are obviously overshadowed by his more memorable moments in a Giants uniform.

Since he left San Francisco, he has bounced around the league a bit with mixed results. But last season as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers he posted a stellar 1.73 ERA in 36 innings pitched.

We know that Strickland has velocity and some solid secondary pitches. He may make sense as an insurance addition in case righties like Zack Littell and Dominic Leone struggle in 2022. Let's just hope that if the SF Giants do sign him he has taken up meditation or found some other way to control his anger.

Four Former SF Giants relievers still available in free agency

2. Sergio Romo

SF Giants fans need no introduction to the legendary Sergio Romo. He was a key figure in all three of the team's World Series championships and endeared himself to fans with his great personality on the mound.

Romo is about to turn 39 in early March, so he is reaching the end of a great MLB career. Wouldn't it be great to see him don the orange and black one more time before he hung up his cleats?

This would not be a move made out of nostalgia, though. Romo has been a solid reliever since he left the Giants and, like Strickland, could be a veteran backup piece if some of the team's other right-handed relievers struggle.

Last season with the Oakland A's, Romo recorded an ERA of 4.67 in 62 innings pitched. Not outstanding by any means, but a number he can surely improve upon especially if he were to return to Oracle Park where he never had a season with an ERA above 4.00.

Like Strickland, it is unlikely that Romo will sign with the Giants. But he would make sense as a lower-cost insurance piece and would provide a familiar face in the bullpen in 2022.

Four Former SF Giants relievers still available in free agency

3. Yusmeiro Petit

SF Giants fans remember Yusmeiro Petit for his legendary performance in Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS in which he threw 6 innings of one hit, scoreless ball to help lead the Giants to victory in the 18 inning classic. He also nearly threw a perfect game in 2013 for the Giants.

Petit has been a fixture on the Oakland A's for the last four seasons and has continued to prove he is a solid big league pitcher. Last season he posted a 3.92 ERA but his K/9 rate dropped considerably down to 4.3.

We know that Petit has never been a strikeout pitcher, but that low strikeout rate is a bit concerning. Nevertheless, Petit still could make sense as a reliever who could come into games and eat up a few innings if necessary.

He is the long reliever that the Giants currently lack. One could argue Jose Alvarez or Jarlin Garcia could fill that role, but Petit has proven in the past he is capable of eating up several innings.

With a rotation that as of right now only has four established starters, several of them with considerable injury history, adding Petit may be a wise move to shore up the pitching staff and provide length in the bullpen.