SF Giants should strongly consider role change for Justin Verlander

SF Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander recently got his first win as a Giant, but given the team's struggles they should strongly consider moving him to the bullpen to give their younger arms more opportunities the rest of this season.

San Francisco decided to sell at the trade deadline after a putrid start to the second half. While they could potentially make the playoffs with a miraculous finish to the season, their actions at the deadline show they already have one eye on 2026.

SF Giants should move Justin Verlander to the bullpen

The team should already consider moving on from fan favorites to make way for prospects, but they also have to figure out what to do with a veteran like Verlander.

The Giants reportedly made Verlander available to other teams ahead of the deadline as a courtesy to the 42-year-old and future member of the Hall of Fame.

Apparently no teams wanted him. He has not had the greatest season as he sports a 1-8 record on the year with a 4.53 ERA in 18 starts and 89 and 1/3 innings pitched. He has 77 strikeouts compared to 34 walks on the year with a 1.49 WHIP.

He has been a victim of bad luck at times, but there have been some very bad starts that had to have made the team question whether they should even keep him on the roster.

His last two starts have been better, but at a certain point there is no reason for the Giants to continue to let Verlander start. Perhaps while Landen Roupp is on the mend from his injury and the Giants have some semblance of a playoff chance left they can still justify letting Verlander start.

Yet, the minute it becomes clear the playoffs are out of reach the Giants should move Verlander to the bullpen or let him go to create an opportunity for a younger pitcher. Verlander is almost certainly not going to be back next season, so giving someone like Carson Seymour a chance to start some big league games will be infinitely more important than letting Verlander try to get his 265th career win.

When the Giants signed Randy Johnson back in 2009, he had to transition to a bullpen role by the end of the year. You know who got a little starting experience as a result of that? Madison Bumgarner.

San Francisco is not completely toast, but once they are the Giants need to pivot and give their young players as many opportunities as possible which will mean giving Verlander a different role on the team.

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