SF Giants should consider bringing back veteran left-handed reliever

Erik Miller is the only left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster after the SF Giants traded away Taylor Rogers last week. They will need to carry at least one more lefty reliever in the bullpen and reuniting with Scott Alexander makes a good bit of sense.

SF Giants should consider bringing back veteran left-handed reliever

The Giants brought on Joey Lucchesi on a minor league deal at the end of last month. They have also added some other left-handed pitchers in free agency. Perhaps, Ethan Small is the most established pitcher in that mix. Whichever left-handed relievers are in camp will need to win a spot on the Opening Day roster as non-roster invitees. That can be a pretty big hurdle to clear as performance is a pretty big factor for players not on the 40-man roster. The only way they can be considered is by making a good impression in camp.

The Giants will want to have depth from the left side and protect against potential injury or regression from Miller. Miller had a nice season in 2024 as he posted a 3.88 ERA in 73 appearances. He held left-handed hitters to a .504 OPS in 108 plate appearances, which is why he quickly became Bob Melvin's go-to lefty out of the bullpen.

It would behoove the Giants to add another southpaw pitcher to the mix. It does not hurt to have another option in case Miller sustains an injury or Lucchesi struggles in spring training. Scott Alexander checks quite a few boxes for the Giants.

The 10-year veteran is familiar with the Bay Area for a few reasons. Most notably, he grew up in the North Bay and attended Sonoma State University before being selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round of the 2010 draft.

Plus, Alexander has spent the last three seasons in the Bay Area. The first two were with the Giants and he just completed a strong 2024 campaign with the Oakland A's. He posted a 2.56 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, and a 2.07 SO/W rate in 38.2 frames with the A's. This includes a 60.0 percent ground ball rate while holding left-handed hitters to a .161/.209/.210 line in 67 plate appearances last year.

Alexander keeps the ball on the ground and has typically been a reliable option against left-handed hitters. He has generally put up solid topline numbers when healthy as well. Given a pretty extensive injury history and age (35), Alexander is likely not in the market for a multi-year deal.

Perhaps, he could even be had on a minor league deal. However, Tim Hill's recent one-year, $2.85 million deal with the New York Yankees is probably on the higher end of what Alexander can expect to see in free agency.

This is the type of deal that makes sense for the 35-year-old pitcher and the Giants. It keeps him close to his hometown and fills a need for the club. One way or the other, they will need a second lefty in the bullpen and Alexander has done well in his career.