SF Giants make surprise move, claim Camilo Doval off waivers from the Pirates

Camilo Doval is back with the SF Giants. According to a team announcement, he was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In a corresponding move, Blade Tidwell was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Tidwell will likely miss all of next season after being recommended for Tommy John surgery earlier this week.

The recovery timeline ranges from 12-18 months, so in a best-case scenario, Tidwell is beginning a rehab assignment at the end of next year. More than likely, the Giants will hold off on that in the hopes of having him ready by the spring of 2028.

The move also exacerbates the looming roster crunch. The Giants now have 17 players on the 60-day injured list. Those players will need to be activated from the injured list following the conclusion of the World Series, as that lever goes away in the offseason.

They currently have quite a few soft spots on the 40-man roster, but this will lead to a busy start to the offseason. The winter could be a quiet one due to the looming lockout, but at the very least, November should be an active time for the Giants.

They will have one more decision to make now. Camilo Doval is back after being placed on waivers by the Pirates earlier this week. That decision was not entirely based on performance. Doval is eligible for arbitration for the third time this offseason, meaning that he is due for a raise from his $6.1 million salary this season.

The latest move assures that the SF Giants will have one more decision to make in the offseason

That is not necessarily an easy decision to make. Doval has struggled to a 4.42 ERA in 85 appearances split between the New York Yankees and Pirates since he was moved at the trade deadline in 2025.

That said, the former NL All-Star had a 3.79 ERA in 19 outings for Pittsburgh. The strikeout rate remains healthy at 9.5 K/9, but the control has eroded in recent seasons.

A team was going to take a chance on that type of arm one way or the other. However, the Giants now have team control over Doval. One option is that they can tender him a deal for next season and pay a small raise from his 2026 salary, or they can non-tender him and agree to a lower base salary. Regardless, the move suggests that Doval will be back with San Francisco next year.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow