Ranking the SF Giants' best options to replace Camilo Doval as closer

The SF Giants need to shake things up at closer. Camilo Doval simply is not cutting it anymore. Manager Bob Melvin should turn to some of his other options in the bullpen to close. Here are his best options ranked to replace Doval.

The SF Giants need a new closer

Camilo Doval is struggling. He has an insanely high walk rate this season and his ERA is a career-high at 4.70. We all know that Doval is capable of being a solid closer in the big leagues but this year he is just not cutting it. His two walks against the Nationals in yesterday's game before allowing a 3-run homer to tie the game were inexcusable. Thankfully, it did not cost the Giants the game but it very easily could have.

Giants manager Bob Melvin needs to make a change. The Giants remain in the NL postseason conversation but in order to make the playoffs they need to play very well coming down the stretch. Every single game is going to matter and they cannot afford to risk losing games because they have an inconsistent and unreliable closer.

It would be one thing if the whole bullpen was bad. Then sticking with Doval would make sense since he does have the raw stuff of a closer. But the Giants have several other arms that are more than capable of serving as the closer for the team. Let's rank these options starting from worst to best.

4. Jordan Hicks

Jordan Hicks began the year as a starter but now he is back in the bullpen. This is not an unfamiliar place for him as he has been a reliever for the vast majority of his career. He has 32 career saves along with 12 blown saves but most of those blown chances came earlier in his career.

Hicks definitely has closer stuff. When he is right his fastball can approach triple digits and he can sink that fastball which he pairs nicely with his splitter and slider.

Hicks would not be a bad option to close, but he may not be the best because he may still need more time to reacclimate to being a reliever after being a starter for much of the year. He definitely has the potential to be a high-leverage arm, though.

Now let's look at two more options for the closer role.

Best SF Giants closer options to replace Camilo Doval

3. Tyler Rogers

Tyler Rogers has been remarkably consistent as a reliver for the Giants. He has a 3.10 ERA for the team and has been incredibly solid as their 8th inning set-up man. Rogers is capable of closing and he has done it in the past, but it is not his comfort zone.

Earlier this year after he blew a save against the Pirates, we took a look at how Rogers has struggled in his career in the 9th inning. In his career he has a 4.56 ERA in the 9th inning compared to a 2.44 ERA in the 8th inning. Rogers has only converted 19/39 saves in his career which is just plain bad.

Plus, Rogers does not have typical closer stuff. His fastball maxes out at 84 mph which can be difficult to blow guys away with.

Rogers is capable of closing, but he is much better suited as an 8th inning set-up man which is where he should stay.

2. Taylor Rogers

Moving from the right-handed twin to the left-handed twin, Taylor Rogers would be another more than serviceable option as a closer. Taylor is having a great year for the Giants with a 2.35 ERA in 46 innings.

He has a career save percentage of roughly 75% converting 83/111 saves in his career. However, he has not really been used in the closer role in a while. Not since 2022 with the Padres has he been a regular closer.

He certainly can reprise that role, though. He is pitching well enough, and he has that experience that he can draw upon.

Now, let's turn to the team's best candidate to take over closer duties.