Young SF Giants hurler might have pitched well enough to retain bulk innings role in 2026

The SF Giants will need to rebuild the bullpen this offseason. However, one role is likely fine as is, as Spencer Bivens should return in a bulk innings role in 2026.

Young SF Giants hurler might have pitched well enough to retain bulk innings role in 2026

A good bullpen has pitchers who can cover different roles. They need relievers to pitch effectively in leverage spots, reliable middle relievers, and a capable bulk innings arm. T

As currently constructed, the Giants' bullpen has a handful of solid middle relievers. However, they are extremely light on leverage arms, which will need to be a priority to address this offseason. On the other hand, they have built up a solid foundation of left-handed relievers.

I do not think many teams are comfortable with spending on relievers in free agency. The year-to-year production can be extremely volatile, and teams often do not get the return of investment. The Giants are in a spot where the bullpen is a weakness, and one of the few avenues to address it is by bringing in a couple of leverage arms.

Not every inning is going to be a leverage inning out of the bullpen. When the team is down, they often want to stay away from using those leverage arms, so a bulk innings reliever tends to take over The goal in this role is to soak up a couple innings and preserve the deficit.

This is where someone like Spencer Bivens comes into play. Admittedly, I think enjoyed watching him throw more than many Giants fans. There is a Yusmeiro Petit quality to the way he approaches hitters. He just knows how to get outs without premium velocity or exceptional stuff. I think he profile has generally leaned pitchability-over-stuff, and those pitchers can still have success in today's game.

Overall, Bivens pitched to a 4.00 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, and a 2.44 SO/W rate in 54 outings. He covered 81 innings this season, so many of his appearances were multi-inning efforts.

The numbers just do not jump off the page, but Bivens does a few things well. Throwing strikes is paramount to being in this role. When the team is down, the last thing they want is a pitcher who is struggling to find the strike zone. It slows the pace of the game and likely leads to a few extra runs.

Bivens also does a nice job of keeping the ball on the ground (52.0 percent ground ball rate) and in the park (0.67 HR/9 rate). He has a well below-average whiff rate at 17.0 percent, but does get hitters to chase at a 29.4 percent clip.

The low strikeout rate likely limits Bivens to a bulk innings or middle reliever role, but that is a role that still needs to be filled in every bullpen. As the Giants are constructing next year's bullpen, there is a good chance that the 31-year-old pitcher retains his role.