SF Giants Rumors: Team still 'seriously considering' adding starting pitching

While it certainly seems like the SF Giants are done adding to the starting rotation, a recent rumor from Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggests the Giants may not be done trying to improve the rotation.

Heyman wrote the following on social media: "Teams still seriously considering starting pitchers with 2 weeks to go: Orioles, Tigers, D-Backs, Padres, Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Angels, Giants, Rays, A’s, White Sox and maybe Jays, Marlins, Phillies."

SF Giants still seen as in the market for starting pitching

Now, Heyman basically listed half the league in that post. Probably every team is going to remain open to the possibility of adding pitching, but how seriously should we take this rumor that the Giants are "seriously considering" an upgrade to the rotation?

After the team signed Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle, it seemed like they were probably done making additions to the rotation. As things stand, they have Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Houser, Mahle, and Landen Roupp as their five-man rotation.

But maybe the Giants are a little nervous about Roupp after he dealt with injuries last season and would feel more comfrotable with him in the bullpen. Perhaps that opens the door for another move or maybe they'd be willing to part with Roupp in a trade if they could upgrade his spot in the rotation.

The question is where the Giants could look to make that upgrade. Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen are the top two starters remaining in free agency. Valdez was predicted to get a big contract but apparently questions about his character have prevented that market from materializing.

Gallen reportedly was close to signing with the Chicago Cubs earlier in the offseason but that has not come to pass as he seems unlikely to get a long-term deal either.

Both pitchers seem like good candidates for a short-term deal with opt-outs, sort of like the ones the Giants gave to Blake Snell and Carlos Ródon. It is unclear if president of baseball operations Buster Posey would be willling to entertain that sort of deal, but it might be worth it to get a good year out of a pitcher before they hit the market again.

The trade route is a bit murkier at this point. A lot of the big trade targets like Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, Sonny Gray, and Freddy Peralta have already been dealt. Maybe the Giants could make a play for someone like Sandy Alcantara, but there is not much out there.

We will see if the Giants really are looking to upgrade the rotation still or if Heyman is just blowing smoke. It seems unlikely that the Giants will make another move, but crazier things have happened.