SF Giants may have to run it back with same beleaguered closer in 2026

Last season, the SF Giants began the campaign with Ryan Walker as their closer and they ended it with Walker as their closer. They may have no other choice than to begin 2026 with Walker as their closer with the way things are shaping up.

Walker earned the closer job to begin 2025 after he proved to be one of the most elite closers in baseball in 2024, posting a 1.91 ERA in 80 innings pitched with 99 strikeouts and 10 saves after being promoted into the closer role following Camilo Doval's struggles.

SF Giants may have no other choice than to roll with Walker as closer in 2026

Then, a bit of a role reversal occurred in 2025 as Walker began the year as closer but was replaced by Doval midway through the season after Walker was struggling while Doval was looking like his old self.

The Giants decided to trade Doval to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline after limping into the second half which meant Randy Rodríguez got a crack at closer after an All-Star campaign in the first half.

Unfortunately, Rodríguez did not take to the closer role all that well as he struggled to close the door in the ninth, and he was not able to settle into the new role because of an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery and will force him to miss all of 2026.

That meant Walker had to step back into the closer role at the end of the season and he struggled to find consistency. He converted 17 of 24 save opportunities with a 4.11 ERA on the year and somewhat fittingly the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention thanks to a blown save by Walker.

The Giants have made some minor bullpen additions this offseason, but they did not go out and add a clear closer even though there was no shortage of options out there.

Pricey contracts for closers can often backfire though, so maybe the low-cost strategy the Giants are employing will prove to be a wise one.

Still, that means there will probably be a competition for the closer spot in 2026 and Walker is probably the favorite at this point. He has the most experience and has proven he can be an elite arm when his command is on point.

Erik Miller is another potential option and maybe someone like the hard-throwing Joel Peguero could be a dark horse candidate after how he finished 2025.

The Giants may just have to hope Walker can bounce back from a rough 2025 and can be more like the 2024 version of himself.