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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/world-baseball-classic-news-giants-logan-webb-joins-team-usa');   ga('set', 'title', 'World Baseball Classic news: Giants’ Logan Webb latest ace to join Team USA');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Logan-Webb-pitches-against-Reds.jpg"><figcaption>Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>World Baseball Classic news: Giants’ Logan Webb latest ace to join Team USA</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-18T14:03:13-08:00">December 18th, 2:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-18T14:03:13-08:00">December 18th, 2:03pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The World Baseball Classic roster for Team USA continued to take shape Thursday as another frontline starter committed to the national team. San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb confirmed his availability for the 2026 tournament, further strengthening an already impressive pitching staff.</p><p>Webb becomes the latest high-end arm to pledge participation for March, reinforcing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/world-baseball-classic-news-tarik-skubal-mason-miller-team-usa">USA Baseball’s clear emphasis on pitching depth</a> during this roster cycle. Known for his durability and consistency, the 29-year old Giants ace is coming off a 2025 season in which he logged 207 innings across 34 starts, solidifying his reputation as one of the most reliable workhorses in the sport.</p><p>Team USA officially confirmed Webb’s commitment through its X account (formerly known as Twitter), <a href="https://x.com/USABaseball/status/2001763163793187198" rel="noopener">welcoming</a> the right-hander as roster construction continues.</p><p>“Another stud has joined the staff.</p><p>Logan Webb is IN for the World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another stud has joined the staff.</p><p>Logan Webb is IN for the World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/RWgedpbzQn">pic.twitter.com/RWgedpbzQn</a></p><p>— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/USABaseball/status/2001763163793187198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The announcement followed a wave of pitching commitments earlier in the day from Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, and Pittsburgh Pirates 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, signaling a coordinated effort to build a balanced and versatile staff. Webb’s ground-ball–heavy approach and elite command complement the power-oriented arms already committed, giving <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/world-baseball-classic-news-team-usas-pitching-gets-another-boost">Team USA multiple stylistic options</a> depending on matchups and workload considerations.</p><p>From a performance standpoint, Webb brings consistency and efficiency. He finished the 2025 campaign with a 15-11 record, a 3.22 ERA, and 224 strikeouts while limiting walks at an elite rate. His first career Gold Glove further underscored his value as a complete pitcher, not just a strikeout producer.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-logan-webb-fantasy-football-admission">For the Giants</a>, Webb’s decision introduces a monitoring element as spring approaches. The World Baseball Classic adds competitive innings in March, increasing the importance of workload management once the regular season begins. Still, his track record suggests he is well equipped to handle the responsibility.</p><p>As commitments continue to surface, the World Baseball Classic picture becomes clearer. With Webb now officially in the fold, Team USA’s pitching staff is shaping into one of the most formidable groups the tournament has seen.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

World Baseball Classic news: Giants’ Logan Webb latest ace to join Team USA

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-starter-reliever-duo-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants sign intriguing starter, reliever duo in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Giants-logo-in-MLB.jpg"><figcaption>© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants sign intriguing starter, reliever duo in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-16T13:18:31-08:00">December 16th, 1:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-16T13:19:09-08:00">December 16th, 1:19pm</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-interested-adding-pitching-theres-a-catch">San Francisco Giants are making moves this offseason</a>, in the hopes to make the MLB Playoffs in 2026. San Francisco is picking up a relief pitcher who spent the 2025 season in the minor leagues, as well as a proven starter. Right-handed starter Adrian Houser is <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/2001033680639205484" rel="noopener">signing a two-year deal</a> with San Francisco, per ESPN.</p><p>Houser’s deal is worth $22 million and includes a third-year club option, Jeff Passan reported. In 2025, Houser won eight games while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.</p><p>The Giants are also signing reliever Jason Foley to <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/2001022249340723354" rel="noopener">a one-year deal</a>, per the team’s social media.</p><p>Foley spent the 2025 campaign in Triple-A playing for the Toledo Mud Hens. With the Mud Hens, Foley appeared in five games. He was recovering mostly from shoulder surgery, after getting injured.</p><p>Toledo is part of the Detroit Tigers’ farm system. Foley played with the Tigers before his time in the minors. He was an effective MLB closer in the few years he spent pitching before getting injured. Foley has a 3.16 ERA in MLB, with 35 total saves.</p><h2><b>Giants hope to have success in 2026</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Buster-Posey-sits-in-dugout.jpg"><figcaption>© Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-patrick-bailey-history-not-seen-1969">Giants started out the 2025 season with a lot of promise</a>. San Francisco was at the top of the National League West standings for a few months, but struggled as the season went on.</p><p>The Giants finished the year with a 81-81 overall record. Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey says he is committed to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6799931/2025/11/11/san-francisco-giants-spend-buster-posey-gm-meetings/" rel="noopener">turning the franchise into a winner</a> once again.</p><p>“The reality is we’re gonna need … I mean, I looked at it like this is a player, and I think I look at it even more so now: The successful teams are going to have players within their system that make an impact,” Posey said, per The Athletic. “I think for us to get where we want to go — and certainly don’t read between the lines and say that we’re not going to make additions, because we’ll most certainly do our best to improve pitching like always — but we’re going to need some of the Tidwells, the Whisenhunts of the world, the Tengs, the Seymours, and I’m probably leaving one or two out there, to take that next step and really contribute on the pitching side of things.”</p><p>San Francisco fans hope that Foley and Houser can help out the pitching staff as much as possible. Foley is still recovering from his injury, but the Giants expect him to be available mid-season in 2026.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants sign intriguing starter, reliever duo in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-pursue-cody-bellinger-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants rumors: Will San Francisco pursue Cody Bellinger in free agency?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cody-Bellinger-reacts-after-flying-out.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants rumors: Will San Francisco pursue Cody Bellinger in free agency?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-13T08:28:07-08:00">December 13th, 8:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-13T08:28:55-08:00">December 13th, 8:28am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants are looking to build a contending ball club. The team has been mired in mediocrity for the past few seasons. Signing a versatile star such as Cody Bellinger could help the Giants take a big step forward. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-interested-adding-pitching-theres-a-catch">pitching may be a priority</a>, Scott Boras — Bellinger’s agent — <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYSzbM293HE" rel="noopener">did reportedly mention</a> the Giants as a potential suitor, according to Splash Hit Territory.</p><p>“Scott Boras… He did connect the Giants pretty firmly with Cody Bellinger,” Susan Slusser said on the podcast.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-scott-boras-dr-seuss-outlining-cody-bellinger-landing-spots">Boras mentioned a number of teams</a> as potential candidates for Bellinger, however. Still, the Giants do seem to be a possibility. Slusser, who is a beat reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle in addition to her work on the Splash Hit Territory podcast, further shared her thoughts on the Giants possibly landing Bellinger in free agency.</p><p>“Let’s put the money aside… how likely it is that they could get him, to me, (signing Bellinger) would fill two huge needs,” Slusser added. “Defense, obviously, in the outfield. He’s also a pretty good offensive player. Cost is gonna be high, the years are probably going to be high, that’s obviously not what we’re hearing that they’re interested in doing. But, he got thrown out there with a bunch of other guys.”</p><p>Oracle Park in San Francisco features a large — and difficult to navigate — outfield. Bringing in a guy like Bellinger makes plenty of sense, as he can realistically play any position in the outfield. He can also play first base, but the Giants would surely use him as an outfielder.</p><p>He’s a strong defender in addition to being versatile. And as Slusser mentioned, Bellinger is more than capable of taking care of business at the plate. He’s also extremely familiar with the National League West, having played in Los Angeles with the Dodgers from 2017-2022.</p><p>There are no guarantees that San Francisco will add Bellinger, but it seems as if the Giants are at least in the conversation.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants rumors: Will San Francisco pursue Cody Bellinger in free agency?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-ken-rosenthal-believes-san-francisco-will-sign-max-scherzer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants rumors: Ken Rosenthal believes San Francisco will sign Max Scherzer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Max-Scherzer-at-the-World-Series.jpg"><figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants rumors: Ken Rosenthal believes San Francisco will sign Max Scherzer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T11:57:06-08:00">December 12th, 11:57am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T12:45:37-08:00">December 12th, 12:45pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After playing a key role for the Toronto Blue Jays en route to the World Series, starting pitcher Max Scherzer is now a free agent. Any team aiming for a playoff berth in 2026 could be in the mix to potentially sign him. On Friday, MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-interested-adding-pitching-theres-a-catch">sparked rumors after naming the San Francisco Giants</a> as a possible landing spot.</p><p>During a guest appearance on “Foul Territory,” Rosenthal claims he believes the Giants <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1999547297676611598" rel="noopener">will sign the 41-year-old pitcher</a> this offseason. Largely because the popular MLB Insider says that the organization does not plan on spending big money on a starting pitcher. So, that leaves the door open for San Francisco to pursue Scherzer.</p><p>“Why [the Giants] wouldn’t continue spending on the pitching is a little curious to me,” said Rosenthal. “I expect that they’re gonna sign Max Scherzer. Max Scherzer loves Tony Vitello, he was his pitching coach at Missouri.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'm not sure which way they're going exactly."<a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> expects the Giants to sign Max Scherzer, but questions why they won't spend big beyond just him. <a href="https://t.co/1MQF9LfHeM">pic.twitter.com/1MQF9LfHeM</a></p><p>— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1999547297676611598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Although Rosenthal names Scherzer as a possible option for the Giants, he does seem overall confused with the organization not spending the money on one of the top free agent pitchers. The possibility of adding the three-time Cy Young Award winner to the pitching rotation is exciting. However, it appears to be more of a supplemental move rather than a true improvement for the team, according to Rosenthal.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/mlb-rumors-giants-threat-steal-max-scherzer-blue-jays">Max Scherzer had a bit</a> of a rocky regular season despite playing decently well in the playoffs. The 18-year veteran ended the 2025 campaign with a 5.19 ERA (career-worst) and 1.294 WHIP while recording 82 strikeouts through 85.0 innings pitched.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants rumors: Ken Rosenthal believes San Francisco will sign Max Scherzer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-interested-adding-pitching-theres-a-catch');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants rumors: San Francisco interested in adding pitching, but there’s a catch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Buster-Posey-sits-in-dugout.jpg"><figcaption>© Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants rumors: San Francisco interested in adding pitching, but there’s a catch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T12:06:24-08:00">December 11th, 12:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T12:23:14-08:00">December 11th, 12:23pm</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' editorial team after primarily focusing on betting content. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-out-tatsuya-imai-arms-race">San Francisco Giants are looking to the MLB Winter Meetings</a> to bolster their starting pitching. But Buster Posey <a href="https://fansided.com/mlb/winter-meetings-takeaways-what-the-yankees-orioles-mets-red-sox-and-more-are-planning-next">might need some time</a> to build the Giants’ rotation, according to an article by Robert Murray of Fansided.</p><p>“Word is, the Giants aren’t close to anything yet. They have a glaring need for starting pitching and are expected to address the unit at some point. They’re having conversations to bolster the unit, but all indications are that it will take some time for Buster Posey and the front office to land reinforcements,” Murray wrote.</p><p>Logan Webb led the rotation this season, going 15-11 with a 3.22 ERA over 207 innings (an MLB best) while striking out 224 batters (third). Meanwhile, Robbie Ray went 11-8 with a 3.68 ERA and 186 strikeouts across 32 starts. Justin Verlander went 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA over 29 starts. But he is 42 years old, and the Giants did not have many other reliable starting options.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-perfect-145-million-zac-gallen-contract-offer-to-steal-him-from-diamondbacks-in-free-agency">Giants have been linked to Zac Gallen</a> this offseason, and he would be an intriguing option. Likewise, there have been reports that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/mlb-rumors-giants-predicted-to-sign-tatsuya-imai-over-yankees-dodgers">Giants have expressed interest in Tatsuya Imai</a>. So far, neither of those reports have come to fruition, and San Francisco is left waiting.</p><p>While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/dodgers-news-edwin-diaz-la-contract-makes-mlb-history">Giants have watched the Los Angeles Dodgers sign Edwin Diaz</a> to bolster their bullpen, they have been relatively quiet. After ranking 17th in starting pitching ERA, there is some urgency to get a top-notch starter. Webb and Ray are both above-average pitchers. But the Giants need at least one more to contend with the Dodgers in the NL West, potentially. While their bullpen was elite, ranking fourth in team ERA, their starters must be better.</p><p>The MLB Winter Meetings have not yielded any results so far. But the Giants will continue to discuss options, while also seeking a solution to their starting pitching woes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants rumors: San Francisco interested in adding pitching, but there’s a catch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-tony-vitello-opens-up-tennessee-transition-giants');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants manager Tony Vitello gets brutally honest on leaving Tennessee for San Francisco');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Tony-Vitelloo.jpg"><figcaption>© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants manager Tony Vitello gets brutally honest on leaving Tennessee for San Francisco</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T17:36:01-08:00">December 9th, 5:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T17:36:01-08:00">December 9th, 5:36pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Tony Vitello’s move from the Tennessee Volunteers baseball program to the San Francisco Giants sent shockwaves across both college and professional baseball. The longtime Volunteers coach, now the Giants manager, made his first candid comments about the emotional and professional leap during the ongoing MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-tony-vitello-how-he-ended-up-becoming-san-franciscos-manager">Vitello</a>, who turned the Volunteers into a national force, admitted the choice to leave the program carried real weight. Still, he said his first days with the Giants have felt sharp and full of energy. He arrived after their 81-81 finish to the 2025 season, replacing Bob Melvin and becoming the first modern coach to move straight from college baseball into an MLB managerial job without any prior professional experience. The shift also brings fresh intrigue to a club searching for stability, as many around the league view this experiment as a rare chance to test new ideas at the highest competitive level.</p><p>During his appearance on the “Foul Territory” TV show, Vitello spoke about the weight of leaving a championship team while embracing the rush of a new challenge. The segment was later posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the show, giving viewers <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1998530598718329283?s=20" rel="noopener">a clear look</a> at his mindset as he discussed the transition.</p><p>“Everyone walking around this hotel is 0-0, so there’s nothing to be too depressed about.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tony Vitello says leaving Tennessee was heavy, but it's been more than exciting with the Giants ever since.</p><p>"Everyone walking around this hotel is 0-0, so there's nothing to be too depressed about." <a href="https://t.co/IpWqbzKBVk">pic.twitter.com/IpWqbzKBVk</a></p><p>— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1998530598718329283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The remarks from the 47-year-old manager captured his belief in starting clean. For Vitello, the Giants job centers on building a winning culture in a new arena shaped by veteran players, sharp analytical work, and expectations that rise far beyond the SEC spotlight.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-tony-vitello-ig-welcome">The Giants organization</a>, led by Buster Posey in the front office, views this hire as a bold shift toward innovation. Vitello’s past success and his knack for player development could set a new precedent, bridging the gap between college dominance and professional leadership.</p><p>If his college-to-pro transition clicks, it might not just reshape Giants baseball — it could redefine how MLB teams evaluate coaching talent entirely.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants manager Tony Vitello gets brutally honest on leaving Tennessee for San Francisco

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-scott-boras-dr-seuss-outlining-cody-bellinger-landing-spots');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Scott Boras goes full Dr. Seuss when outlining Cody Bellinger landing spots');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Scott-Boras.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Scott Boras goes full Dr. Seuss when outlining Cody Bellinger landing spots</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T14:34:06-08:00">December 9th, 2:34pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T14:48:01-08:00">December 9th, 2:48pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy is a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints, with expertise in MLB, NHL and golf. Chris graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Cincinnati Reds</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cody Bellinger is one of the big names available in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-news-aaron-boone-hands-off-approach-cody-bellinger-free-agency">MLB free agency after a strong season with the New York Yankees</a>. Bellinger’s agent is Scott Boras, a super agent known for his quirky press conferences. According to Boras, there are eight teams vying for the outfielder. The way he told everyone, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1998437548142583821" rel="noopener">was something out</a> of a Dr. Seuss book.</p><p>“It’s not for me to Judge, but great players see Red if they have a big bat Yanked out of their lineup. I haven’t Met a team that Dodges a five-tool player. To Phil the center field need is a Giant step towards the playoffs. North and south outfielders that fly with power, they’re rare Birds. In the offseason, there’s a lot of startup to organizations, and for that reason, there’s a lot of Angel investors that are looking for very versatile outfielders. So other than that, Belli doesn’t have much interest.”</p><p>Boras dropped hints on eight teams that are asking about Bellinger. The Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Angels are the teams. Overall, Boras did a nice job just saying the team’s name. “North…Birds” was a stretch, but it got the point across.</p><p>Bellinger is a former MVP from his time with the Dodgers. Now, after one great season with the Yankees, he has one last chance to cash in. He has the right teams involved, as many of the high-spending teams are in Boras’ riddle.</p><p>The Reds stick out as a small-market team that has thrown its hat in the ring for Bellinger. They tried to sign <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-news-orioles-matched-kyle-schwarber-offer-reds-pirates-just-behind">Kyle Schwarber, offering him a four-year deal</a> worth over $30 million per year. Bellinger likely will not sign a deal that short. But if they lengthen the Schwarber offer, they could stun the world.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Scott Boras goes full Dr. Seuss when outlining Cody Bellinger landing spots

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-perfect-145-million-zac-gallen-contract-offer-to-steal-him-from-diamondbacks-in-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants’ perfect $145 million Zac Gallen contract offer to steal him from Diamondbacks in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Giants-perfect-XXX-Zac-Gallen-contract-offer-to-steal-him-from-Diamondbacks-in-free-agency-.jpg"></figure><h1>Giants’ perfect $145 million Zac Gallen contract offer to steal him from Diamondbacks in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T09:05:12-08:00">December 9th, 9:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T09:05:12-08:00">December 9th, 9:05am</time><address><a>Garrett Kerman</a>Garrett Kerman also goes by the name of The Fight Analyst. He covers all combat sports, from MMA, to boxing, to even bare-knuckle. He is also very well-versed in all American sports when it comes to news and betting analysis. Whether you want betting advice or some breaking news, Garrett is your guy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants face a critical offseason decision that could reshape their championship aspirations for the next half-decade. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-reporter-san-francisco-zac-gallen-free-agency">Zac Gallen remains one of the most talented starting pitchers on the free-agent market</a>, the Giants have an unprecedented opportunity to acquire an ace-caliber arm who could anchor their rotation for years to come.</p><p>While Gallen’s 2025 season saw a career-worst 4.83 ERA and 1.260 WHIP across 192 innings, his proven track record of consistency and three top-ten Cy Young finishes demonstrate that his recent struggles represent a temporary setback rather than a permanent decline. The Giants must act decisively with a contract package that combines financial commitment with strategic incentives designed to make San Francisco an irresistible option.</p><h2>The Market Reality and Financial Framework for Zac Gallen</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Zac-Gallen_6e67bd.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Zac Gallen’s free-agency landscape presents a unique opportunity for the Giants to secure a premium pitcher at a potentially discounted rate compared to his peak market value. Industry benchmarks suggest that comparable starting pitchers have commanded significant investment, with Sean Manaea signing a three-year, $75 million deal with the Mets and Yusei Kikuchi securing a three-year, $63 million agreement with the Dodgers. However, early reports indicate that teams are offering packages in the $20-25 million annual range, creating a narrow window for the Giants to position themselves aggressively without overpaying significantly.​</p><p>The Giants should propose a six-year contract worth $145 million, averaging approximately $24.17 million annually with strategic incentive bonuses. This framework provides Gallen with security and total earning potential while remaining below the astronomical figures some marquee free agents command. The contract should include a $5 million signing bonus upon agreement, demonstrating the Giants’ commitment and providing immediate financial gratification to one of baseball’s premier hurlers.​</p><h2>Structural Incentives That Make the Difference</h2><p>The true genius of this proposal lies not in raw dollars but in its innovative incentive structure tailored specifically to Gallen’s needs and the Giants’ organizational vision. The contract should include performance-based bonuses that reward excellence rather than punish short-term struggles, with escalators for achieving specific statistical thresholds. Gallen would earn an additional $500,000 annually for every season he maintains a sub-3.75 ERA, recognizing that his 2025 decline represents an anomaly in his career trajectory rather than a permanent skill erosion.​</p><p>The Giants should sweeten the deal with an exclusive player opt-out clause after four seasons, providing Gallen with flexibility to reassess his situation while giving the team security for the critical middle years of his prime. Additionally, the franchise should commit to a state-of-the-art pitching analytics program and renowned biomechanics coaching staff, addressing the mechanical issues that contributed to his disappointing 2025 campaign. This investment in player development infrastructure demonstrates that the Giants aren’t simply purchasing arm talent but investing in Gallen’s long-term success and happiness within their organization.</p><h2>Why San Francisco Represents the Perfect Landing Spot</h2><p>Beyond the financial package, the Giants must articulate why Oracle Park and the Bay Area organization represent Gallen’s ideal professional home. The franchise’s commitment to building around core starting pitching, combined with access to cutting-edge training facilities and a reputation for maximizing pitcher performance, positions San Francisco as the premier destination for elite arms seeking sustained success. The Giants should emphasize their mid-rotation depth and organizational commitment to supporting a genuine pennant contender, offering Gallen the opportunity to pitch in high-leverage postseason scenarios throughout his contract tenure.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@susanslusser</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sfgiants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sfgiants</a> have talked to Zac Gallen with interest in a shorter term deal. What deal would fans be willing to give him?</p><p>First thought: 3 years/$65 million with an opt-out after the 2nd year. Too much? Not enough? <a href="https://t.co/tlTDMOeF8i">pic.twitter.com/tlTDMOeF8i</a></p><p>— Michael Monreal (@mmonreal0423) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmonreal0423/status/1995956477622976750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The proposed six-year, $145 million package with intelligent incentives creates the foundation for a transformational partnership that benefits both parties. For Gallen, it represents security, competitive opportunity, and an organizational commitment to maximizing his talents. For the Giants, it signals their intention to compete immediately and sustains their rotation’s competitive edge for the remainder of this decade. This contract isn’t just about money—it’s about building a partnership that recognizes both Gallen’s proven excellence and his current undervaluation in the free-agent marketplace.​</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants’ perfect $145 million Zac Gallen contract offer to steal him from Diamondbacks in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-jeff-kent-elected-baseball-hall-of-fame');   ga('set', 'title', 'Former Giants’ Jeff Kent elected to Baseball Hall of Fame before MLB Winter Meetings');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jeff-Kent-at-press-conference-v1.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Former Giants’ Jeff Kent elected to Baseball Hall of Fame before MLB Winter Meetings</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T20:30:43-08:00">December 7th, 8:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T20:30:43-08:00">December 7th, 8:30pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jeff Kent has earned his place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The longtime infielder, renowned for his offensive achievements at second base, was selected by the <a href="https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1997829811969146933" rel="noopener">Contemporary Baseball Era Committee</a>, receiving 14 of 16 votes, surpassing the 12-vote threshold required for induction. Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch announced the news at the Winter Meetings in Orlando on Sunday.</p><p>Kent enjoyed a 17-year Major League career spanning six teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. While his early years were solid but unspectacular, his career truly blossomed after joining San Francisco in 1997 at age 29.</p><p>Over six seasons with the Giants, the 57-year-old posted a bWAR of 31.6, contributing 175 home runs and 689 RBI while slashing .297/.368/.535. He excelled as a right-handed hitter in a ballpark often challenging for righties and utilized the gaps effectively, hitting 247 of his career 560 doubles in San Francisco.</p><p>Kent’s peak came in the early 2000s, earning five All-Star selections, four Silver Sluggers, and the 2000 National League MVP. That year, he posted a .334/.424/.596 slash line with 33 home runs and 125 RBI while playing alongside Giants teammate Barry Bonds. Kent’s 1,518 career RBI ranks third among second basemen, and his 377 home runs make him the all-time leader at the position.</p><p>Overall, Kent finished his career with a .290/.356/.500 slash line, 2,461 hits, 560 doubles, 1,320 runs, and 55.4 WAR. According to JAWS, he is ranked among the top 22 second basemen in history.</p><p>After 10 years on the BBWAA ballot, Kent’s vote share peaked at 46.5% in 2023, but his candidacy fell short of the 75% needed for election. Nonetheless, the Contemporary Era Committee recognized his contributions, making him the only candidate elected from a ballot that included Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela.</p><p>Delgado received nine votes, while Mattingly and Murphy each earned six. Bonds, Clemens, Sheffield, and Valenzuela received fewer than five votes, rendering them ineligible for the next Contemporary Era ballot in 2028 under a new rule. Bonds and Clemens, in particular, may not appear again until 2031.</p><p>Kent will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 26, 2026, alongside BBWAA-selected players including Carlos Beltran, Ryan Braun, Cole Hamels, and others.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Former Giants’ Jeff Kent elected to Baseball Hall of Fame before MLB Winter Meetings

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-san-francisco-loses-former-top-prospect-pirates');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants lose former top prospect to Pirates');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pirates-then-Giants-infielder-Marco-Luciano-vs-Padres.jpg"><figcaption>Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants lose former top prospect to Pirates</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-06T07:47:51-08:00">December 6th, 7:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-06T07:47:51-08:00">December 6th, 7:47am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-non-tender-joey-lucchesi">San Francisco Giants watched a familiar name walk out the door</a> as the Pittsburgh Pirates swooped in and claimed Marco Luciano off waivers, a move that instantly stirred MLB Free Agency chatter and renewed debate about the development path of a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2021/giants/" rel="noopener">once-hyped</a> Giants prospect. The transaction, confirmed in a Pirates press release and <a href="https://x.com/MistrettaMLB/status/1997311438361411833" rel="noopener">first surfaced</a> in ClutchPoints reporting by Joey Mistretta, marked a sudden shift for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/1-player-san-francisco-giants-trade-before-2025-deadline">a player long viewed as part of the Giants’ future</a>. The moment felt sharp. It also felt final.</p><p>Marco Luciano’s story with the Giants stretches back to 2018, when he signed as a prized international free agent with star-level projections. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/san-francisco-giants-news-marco-luciano-call-up">He broke through for his MLB debut in 2023</a> and appeared in 41 total games. His slash line told the story of a player still searching for footing — .217/.286/.304 with three RBI and no home runs, but the tools never stopped flashing. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-marco-luciano-gets-real-position-change-before-giants-2025-season">The Giants experimented with position changes</a>, roles, and ways to unlock the former top prospect’s timing at the plate. None of it stuck.</p><h2>A new Pirates chapter, and the Giants’ ending</h2><p>Now the Pirates take the gamble. They gain a 24-year-old with raw power, a strong arm, and enough upside to justify the claim. It also comes <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates/pirates-rumors-more-moves-jhostynxon-garcia-trade">at a moment when the Pirates are moving aggressively</a>; their recent massive multi-player trade signaled a front office intent on reshaping the roster fast. Luciano becomes part of that push. The Pirates inherit the same challenge that shadowed him in San Francisco, turning projection into production, but they offer a new environment that may unlock something the Giants never fully reached.</p><p>For the Giants, the move lands with emotional weight. Fans watched him rise through the system. They imagined the breakout. They waited for the moment it all clicked. Instead, they watched the Pirates step in again, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-acquires-pitcher-in-5-player-trade-with-pirates">fresh off a headline-stealing trade in MLB Free Agency</a>, and reshape the story with another bold addition.</p><p>Prospects shift. Plans evolve. But if Marco Luciano blossoms in the Pirates’ new-look system, how loudly will Giants fans wonder what might have been?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants lose former top prospect to Pirates

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-giants-to-hire-ex-world-series-champion-as-bullpen-coach');   ga('set', 'title', 'Giants to hire ex-World Series champion as bullpen coach');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jesse-Chavez-is-an-experienced-and-respected-MLB-coach.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Giants to hire ex-World Series champion as bullpen coach</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-05T18:06:19-08:00">December 5th, 6:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-05T18:06:19-08:00">December 5th, 6:06pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The San Francisco Giants have a huge hill to climb in the 2026 season. They showed some flashes in 2025, but they finished in third place in the National League West behind the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-news-ron-washington-hired-infield-coach-stint-angels-manager">The Giants</a> are starting over in 2026 with new leadership. They hired college coach Tony Vitello to be their new manager, bringing him in from the University of Tennessee. Vitello is certainly untested at the Major League level, but general manager Buster Posey clearly believes in his ability to build a new culture and find a way to motivate this team in a way that former manager Bob Melvin was unable to do so.</p><p>The Giants have hired a veteran leader in Ron Washington to serve as infield coach and they have also <a href="https://x.com/JohnSheaHey/status/1997076726481146287">brought in Jesse Chavez</a> to serve as the team’s bullpen coach. Chavez is a respected former player who had experience with 9 Major League teams.</p><p>Chavez was a long reliever throughout most of his career and he made 657 appearances and had a 51-66 record with a 4.27 ERA. He played six seasons with the Atlanta Braves, and he also had a 4-year stint with the Oakland A’s. His other big-league associations were with the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals and the Dodgers.</p><h2><b>Giants are hoping that managerial change will deliver big results</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-giants-latest-team-mentioned-kyle-schwarber-suitor">The Giants</a> finished the season with an 81-81 record. While the Giants should have some power in their lineup as they are led by former Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, it is likely the pitching staff that will allow Vitello to get the most out of the team</p><p>Logan Webb is the team’s best starter, and he had a 15-11 record with a 3.22 earned run average while pitching a league-high 207.0 innings. He struck out 224 batters while walking 46.</p><p>The bullpen was especially effective in 2025, but trading Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval along with Tommy John surgery for Randy Rodriguez means that Chavez will have a lot of work to do in this area.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Giants to hire ex-World Series champion as bullpen coach

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/san-francisco-giants/why-giants-must-trade-for-tigers-tarik-skubal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Giants must trade for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Tarik-Skubal-makes-a-pitch.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Giants must trade for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-04T11:49:57-08:00">December 4th, 11:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-04T11:49:57-08:00">December 4th, 11:49am</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' editorial team after primarily focusing on betting content. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It’s been a busy offseason in the Bay Area, as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-san-francisco-contender-tatsuya-imai">San Francisco Giants have attempted to bolster their starting pitching</a> to become a more well-rounded team. With the Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal potentially headed toward free agency next year, the Giants suddenly have a pitcher they could be chasing to improve their starting rotation. But should they chase the Tigers’ ace?</p><p>San Francisco <a href="https://www.mlb.com/stats/team/pitching/era?split=sp&amp;sortState=asc" rel="noopener">finished 17th in starting pitching ERA</a>, producing mixed results last season. Therefore, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rumors-reporter-san-francisco-zac-gallen-free-agency">Giants continue to chase starting pitchers</a> and look to field a team that can make a playoff run in 2026. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-signing-dylan-cease-3-reasons-backfire">losing Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays,</a> the Giants may need to replace one of their top pitchers. A rotation that includes Logan Webb, an aging Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks, and Kyle Harrison needs someone better.</p><p>That is where Skubal comes in. While the Giants have high-quality starting pitchers, acquiring Skubal could put them over the edge. Here is why they need to do it.</p><h2><b>The Giants need a shutdown ace</b></h2><p>Some might argue that the Giants already have a shutdown ace. Webb has a good season, going 15-11 with a 3.22 ERA and 224 strikeouts (third in the majors). Meanwhile, Ray went 11-8 with a 3.65 ERA. Both are good, above-average pitchers. However, neither is a shutdown pitcher.</p><p>With Skubal, the Giants would get a shutdown pitcher who has won the AL Cy Young over two consecutive seasons. Skubal went 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA over 31 starts. He had 241 strikeouts (second in the majors) and 0.89 WHIP (first in the majors). His overaching metrics are off the charts, and someone the Giants could definitely use.</p><p>For context, the Giants have not had a true shutdown ace since Madison Bumgarner. When he was their ace, they won three titles, and they had often were the top of the class, which is different from the current landscape.</p><h2><b>Skubal would challenge the Dodgers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Why-Giants-must-trade-for-Tigers-Tarik-Skubal.jpg"><figcaption>© Steven Bisig-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Giants don’t have a starting pitcher who can consistently challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers. If they were to trade for Skubal, they would have an ace who could shut things down.</p><p>The one drawback is that Skubal has not fared that well in his one appearance against the Dodgers. So far, he is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts against the boys in blue. Still, his talent as a starting pitcher could fare well in consistent battles with the Dodgers. He has also dominated Shohei Ohtani. So far, Ohtani is just 1 for 9 (.111) with just a single against the Tigers’ ace. That means that Skubal has won the battle more often than not against the Japanese superstar.</p><p>If the Giants trade for Skubal, they will have a starting pitcher who can finally challenge the two-time defending World Series champs. Then, they might vault themselves into title considerations.</p><h2><b>Skubal would give them a title chance</b></h2><p>Skubal would give the Giants a great chance to win the World Series. While the Tigers have sputtered in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, it was partially thanks to his efforts that they got there in the first place. Before their collapse, the Tigers were dominating the majors and winning games consistently. Skubal would give the Giants the same edge.</p><p>The Giants would look to go back to their title-winning roots by building a winner with elite starting pitching. Acquiring Skubal would put them on the right track toward making the playoffs and potentially winning their first title in over a decade. San Francisco must analyze its chances of making the playoffs, then assess which assets they could offer to get Skubal on the team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Trevor
McDonald

Latest Related Team News

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• Giants’ perfect $145 million Zac Gallen contract offer to steal him from Diamondbacks in free agency

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• Giants lose former top prospect to Pirates

• Giants to hire ex-World Series champion as bullpen coach

• Why Giants must trade for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
10	8.10	2	2.10	0

2025 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
10	8.10	2	2.10	0

Trevor McDonald

Latest Related Team News

World Baseball Classic news: Giants’ Logan Webb latest ace to join Team USA

Giants sign intriguing starter, reliever duo in free agency

Giants rumors: Will San Francisco pursue Cody Bellinger in free agency?

Giants rumors: Ken Rosenthal believes San Francisco will sign Max Scherzer

Giants rumors: San Francisco interested in adding pitching, but there’s a catch

Giants manager Tony Vitello gets brutally honest on leaving Tennessee for San Francisco

MLB rumors: Scott Boras goes full Dr. Seuss when outlining Cody Bellinger landing spots

• Giants’ perfect $145 million Zac Gallen contract offer to steal him from Diamondbacks in free agency

• Former Giants’ Jeff Kent elected to Baseball Hall of Fame before MLB Winter Meetings

• Giants lose former top prospect to Pirates

• Giants to hire ex-World Series champion as bullpen coach

• Why Giants must trade for Tigers’ Tarik Skubal

Trevor
McDonald