What the SF Giants are getting with latest waiver claim

On Monday, the SF Giants made a roster move. Pitcher Eric Cerantola was claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals, per the team’s transaction log. What are the Giants getting with their latest waiver claim?

In a corresponding move, Gregory Santos cleared waivers and was sent outright to Sacramento. There was no prior news that he was on the waiver wire.

Santos joined the Giants on a minor league deal in the offseason. He did not make the team out of camp but was added to the roster early in the season. Santos made a few appearances for the Giants, allowing five earned runs across five innings.

The bullpen has been an extreme soft spot on this year’s roster. The Giants have enough evidence to suggest that this is not a slow start or a bad stretch, which is why they should use the second half of the season to figure out who can help beyond this year.

Eric Cerantola has the type of profile that is worth it for SF Giants to churn the roster over

This includes churning the back of the roster. Can Eric Cerantola help? It is worth it from them to find out.

Cerantola was originally a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft by the Royals out of Mississippi State University. He earned a $497,500 signing bonus to begin his pro career.

The right-handed pitcher originally came up as a starter, but transitioned to the bullpen by his second full season as a pro. Across six minor league seasons, he has posted a 3.59 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 12.0 K/9, and a 2.24 SO/W rate. This includes a 2.67 ERA across 30.1 frames at Triple-A this season.

Cerantola also had a brief stint in the majors earlier this season. He allowed six earned runs in 5.1 innings with the Royals.

The 26-year-old pitcher throws from a high, three-quarters arm slot. He flashes a mid 80’s slider and a mid 90’s four-seam fastball. Cerantola will throw the slider about half the time and it grades out as an above-average pitch. In Triple-A, the slider generated a 54.5 percent whiff rate.

Cerantola flashes decent velocity with his fastball, but it does not display strong pitch shape characteristics. He struggles to throw strikes, and can tally high strikeout totals. Being effectively wild can work for some relievers.

The Giants’ bullpen has been more wild than effective in 2026. They have posted a 4.50 BB/9 rate, which is one of the highest in baseball. They also have a 7.74K/9 rate, which is one of the lowest in baseball. Teams will usually tolerate a high walk rate from the bullpen if it comes with a lot of strikeouts. The Giants are doing the opposite of that.

Cerantola brings below-average control to a pitching staff that struggles with it, but tallies high strikeout totals. That type of profile is worth it to churn the roster over, even if it does not yield meaningful results.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow