Reunion with well-traveled southpaw could do wonders for SF Giants bullpen

The SF Giants are going to have to remodel their bullpen for 2026 after injuries and trades decimated their relief corps. A good place to start may be a reunion with southpaw Drew Pomeranz who had a great 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs.

Pomeranz is an interesting pitcher to look at with his winding career that has seen him pitch for so many different teams since he debuted with the Colorado Rockies back in 2011.

SF Giants can reunite with left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz

Pomeranz began his career primarily as a starter and was signed by the Giants in 2019 to be a starting pitcher. That did not work out as he struggled and was eventually moved to the bullpen.

He seemed to find something after getting moved to the bullpen and was effective enough that the Giants were able to trade him and Ray Black to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Mauricio Dubón.

Pomeranz turned himself into an effective reliever after that, posting solid numbers with the Brewers in the rest of the 2019 season before he was signed by the San Diego Padres to be a reliever and was great, posting a 1.45 ERA in 20 games in the 2020 season and a 1.75 ERA in 27 games in 2021 before going down with an injury.

He did not appear in the major leagues for four seasons after that despite having a brief reunion with the Giants on a minors pact but not getting promoted to the big league roster in 2024.

Not until last season with the Chicago Cubs did he reemerge and again show that he still has something left in the tank. In 57 appearances and 49 and 2/3 innings pitched, Pomeranz had a 2.17 ERA.

He pitched well in the playoffs too as the Cubs leaned heavily on him. Pomeranz even seemed to be surprised by how well he pitched.

Now, the 36-year-old is a free agent and MLB insider Jon Morosi had the following to say about him on social media: "LHP Drew Pomeranz, who went 3 seasons without appearing in an MLB game, is a fascinating free agent after a resurgent season with the Cubs. Pomeranz pitches at age 37 next year, after posting a 1.067 WHIP over 49 2/3 innings this season."

The Giants certainly need help in their bullpen and maybe signing Pomeranz to a one-year deal would give them a reliable arm they can count on next year assuming he can stay healthy which is far from a given considering his age and injury history.