Two SF Giants relievers who have likely secured spots in next year's bullpen

The SF Giants bullpen has been rough. You see it. I see it. We all see it. While that unit has been mostly forgettable, Dylan Smith and Trent Harris have likely secured a spot in next year's bullpen.

This is part of what the second half of the season has been all about. The Giants need to get a good evaluation on players to determine if they can help beyond this season. If they get a read on a player, one way or the other, about a potential role beyond 2026, then I would consider that part of the season a success.

The rest of the season? Well, that has been a disaster. The bullpen has led the way in that regard. Not surprisingly, I might add. Going into the year, there were a lot of questions marks about the bullpen, and that has played out about as expected.

While Giants general manager Zack Minasian was hesitant to say that the bullpen needs to be rebuilt, it is clear that changes need to be made. It is not as easy as adding a high-priced closer and calling it an offseason.

The Giants need to considerably raise the floor of that unit. One reliable closer would help, but they need a lot more help than that.

Only a handful of SF Giants relievers have pitched well enough to earn a spot in next year's bullpen

They might have a starting point. Dylan Smith and Trent Harris have looked like potential medium-to-high-leverage relievers. Since the trade deadline, Smith has served as the de facto closer.

While that role might be a stretch in a good bullpen, Smith has proven to be a part of the solution. He has pitched to a 3.24 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.41 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, and a 2.56 SO/W rate in 33.1 innings. Maybe he is better suited for the sixth or seventh inning, but a pitcher who can tally high strikeout totals will usually have a spot in a good bullpen.

On the other hand, Trent Harris has been a pleasant surprise since he was promoted to the major league roster. He has recorded a 2.81 ERA, 1.78 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, 11.8 K/9, and a 3.00 SO/W rate in 16 innings of work.

Similar to Smith, Harris has the ability to make hitters swing and miss at a healthy rate, even if it comes with questionable control. That said, his control is good enough to get by, and that could soon translate to a leverage role. What is the ceiling for Harris? It might be similar to Smith in that he is a leverage reliever in a good bullpen, but the control might be what prevents him from becoming a full-time closer.

Outside of Harris and Smith, the Giants are light on solutions. Keaton Winn was effective before elbow injuries derailed his season. Unfortunately, those elbow injuries have nagged Winn for years.

Jason Foley is eligible for arbitration and has experience closing out games, so he could be back next year. The Giants also need a lot of help from the left side.

Aside from that, the front office cannot return much of the same bullpen and expect better results. That is what they did last year. They do not have to call it a rebuild, but the dynamic of that unit has to change considerably. Even in a down year for the bullpen, the Giants might go into the offseason with a starting point.

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