Many of the buzz surrounding the Giants this winter has concerned the staff’s pursuits of place gamers or rotation assist, but the bullpen stands out as a big want for the staff since Randy Rodriguez will miss the 2026 season on account of Tommy John surgical procedure. San Francisco signed Sam Hentges and obtained concerned in Devin Williams’ market earlier than Williams signed with the Mets, although as with the roster as an entire, not a lot has but been completed throughout what has been a quiet Giants offseason.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle took a have a look at a number of the out there relievers which may assist improve the bullpen, and likewise added the brand new data that “the Giants have been in contact with” Michael Kopech. The best-hander is an fascinating buy-low candidate for the Giants or many different groups, as Kopech is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 marketing campaign.
Three separate placements on the injured listing restricted Kopech to 11 regular-season innings with the Dodgers, and he didn’t pitch for L.A. throughout its postseason run. Kopech was twice positioned on the 60-day IL on account of a shoulder impingement and meniscus surgical procedure, and he then completed the season on the 15-day IL on account of a recurrence of his proper knee discomfort. He did ship a 2.45 ERA and 22.6% strikeout fee throughout his small chunk time on the mound this yr, however with the massive pink flag of a 24.5% stroll fee, as Kopech had extra walks (13) than strikeouts (12) over his 11 frames.
Kopech was as soon as considered one of baseball’s most highly-regarded pitching prospects, and was a big piece of the commerce bundle the White Sox acquired from the Pink Sox within the Chris Sale deal in December 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2018 however then didn’t pitch in both of the following two seasons, on account of a Tommy John surgical procedure and Kopech’s determination to choose out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 marketing campaign. He eased his approach again into motion by working primarily as a reliever in 2021, and had first rate numbers in a full-time beginning function in 2022 whereas battling extra accidents.
Management issues and residential runs began to turn out to be an awesome difficulty for Kopech in 2023, and the White Sox determined to maneuver him to the bullpen the next season in an effort to each fight these points and hold him wholesome. Kopech’s stroll fee was nonetheless on the excessive facet, however he lastly appeared to place issues collectively after a deadline commerce to the Dodgers. The righty posted a 1.13 ERA over 24 regular-innings with Los Angeles after which had a 3.00 ERA over 9 postseason frames to assist the Dodgers win the 2024 World Collection.
Kopech is simply getting into his age-30 season, and he averaged 97.5mph on his fastball in 2025. The strikeout potential and pure stuff in Kopech’s arsenal supplies hope that he can nonetheless develop right into a constant bullpen weapon, if he can keep wholesome and retains the walks even considerably in verify. A one-year contract looks like the max for Kopech within the wake of his more-or-less misplaced season, but that situation most likely works advantageous for the righty and agent Scott Boras — a powerful 2026 season would very seemingly set Kopech up properly for a extra profitable longer-term contract subsequent winter.
New Giants bullpen coach Jesse Chavez briefly crossed paths with Kopech when Chavez spent Spring Coaching 2024 in Chicago’s camp on a minor league contract. Who is aware of if that transient stint as teammates would possibly give San Francisco any edge in signing Kopech, however maybe extra importantly, the Giants can supply Kopech loads of alternative inside a fairly wide-open bullpen image. It isn’t a attain to think about that an in-form Kopech might rapidly earn high-leverage work, and he did amass 15 saves for the White Sox and Dodgers in 2024.
