Underrated SF Giants signing could prove to be wisest move of the offseason

While the SF Giants did not make any splashy moves in the offseason to address a bullpen that still is a major question mark, the team did add one underrated pitcher who could prove to be one of the wisest signings of the winter in Sam Hentges.

The Giants inked the left-handed reliever to a one year deal. Like many of the relief pitchers they signed, he is coming off an injury and did not pitch at all in 2025 for the Cleveland Guardians. Judging by his numbers from 2022 to 2024, the Giants may have a hidden gem. Their Thanksgiving signing may be someone they are very thankful for.

SF Giants may have landed underrated gem with reliever Sam Hentges

In 2022 Hentges had a 2.32 ERA in 62 innings, 2023 saw him pitch to a 3.61 ERA in 56 appearances, and in 2024 he had a 3.04 ERA in 26 appearances before he was shut down with a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season.

Then in 2025 as he was trying to get back from the shoulder injury he had to have a knee procedure which caused him to miss several months. The Guardians opted to non-tender him in November.

Now he has an excellent chance to be a key part of a Giants team in which the bullpen is wide open. President of baseball operations Buster Posey has talked about how there will likely be an open competition to determine who makes the final cut, but as long as Hentges is healthy he will almost certainly be one of the arms the Giants carry on Opening Day.

The expectation is that Hentges will be ready to go and will pitch in spring training games so those exhibitions will be important to make sure that his health is in a good place ahead of the regular season.

Coming off successive injuries it is natural to fear that Hentges will have some rust. The 29-year-old almost certainly will be a bit rusty but it may not take him very long to recapture his old form.

While Erik Miller should be the left-handed reliever the Giants turn to in high leverage spots to start the season, it would not be surprising at all if Hentges wound up being a high leverage arm at some point this season.

This bullpen is wide open as roles are not very defined so Hentges is a name to keep an eye on as the Giants sort through their relief options in spring training and early in the regular season.