SF Giants cut ties with veteran southpaw just over a week after reuniting with him

The SF Giants reunited with left-handed reliever Joey Lucchesi just a week and a half ago, but per New York Post reporter Jon Heyman on social media the Giants have released Lucchesi. This comes after the Giants signed left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki to a major-league contract so there was no more room for Lucchesi on the Opening Day roster.

It's a bit of a surprise, but there was likely something in Lucchesi's contract that if he did not make the Opening Day roster he could opt out of his deal to try and find a contract with another team.

Lucchesi cut loose by the Giants (again)

It's not the first time the Giants have basically cut Lucchesi loose. In the offseason, he was non-tendered by the Giants which was not expected since he pitched well for the team in 2025, posting a 3.76 ERA in 38 appearances. He had to pitch some high-leverage innings for the team given all of the injuries in the bullpen and acquitted himself quite well.

Apparently, the Giants and the rest of the big leagues were not that impressed since he remained unsigned until midway through spring training.

He made just three Cactus League appearances with the Giants in 2026 and looked fine, allowing just one earned run in three innings while striking out two batters. His velocity was in the low-to-mid nineties so it seems like his stuff is normal which means he should land with another team pretty soon.

Obviously, the Giants were higher on Borucki than they were Lucchesi which is why they decided to bring him in. Borucki has been a respectable reliever in his career and the Giants saw him in the Cactus League as he pitched against the Giants on March 12, one day after the Lucchesi signing, as a member of the Chicago White Sox and looked pretty good.

It seems like Borucki will probably make the Opening Day roster along with left-handed pitchers Erik Miller and Matt Gage. Miller is most likely going to be the high-leverage lefty that manager Tony Vitello turns to late in games while Gage and Borucki will probably be used in lower-leverage situations.

The bullpen has a lot of question marks entering the season for San Francisco. It would not be a surprise if the team churns through a lot of arms before they settle on the guys who work best.

Who knows, maybe Lucchesi will find his way back to the Giants again at some point this season if he gets let go by a team and the Giants have a need for a lefty pitcher in the bullpen.