SF Giants will need to thread the needle with arbitration to upgrade the bullpen

Writer Jeff Young argues that the SF Giants face a delicate balancing act with their arbitration-eligible relievers this winter to successfully upgrade their bullpen. Seven of the Giants' nine arbitration-eligible players are bullpen arms, including Camilo Doval, Ryan Walker, Sam Hentges, Jason Foley, Rowan Wick, José Buttó, and Randy Rodríguez. Tendering contracts to most of them would leave little roster flexibility to make necessary improvements following a season where the bullpen posted a 4.14 ERA.

Young notes that while Rodríguez is an easy retention and Walker is a likely non-tender candidate, tougher decisions loom for Doval, Foley, and Hentges. Retaining too many familiar pitchers would limit roster spots and fail to adequately raise the bullpen's ceiling, making the upcoming non-tender deadline critical in revealing the front office's strategy.