The SF Giants are highly unlikely to be shopping at the high end of the free agent market this offseason. That means their additions are likely to be more modest which could lead them to a pair of pitchers who were with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.

We know that the Giants do not want to give out a nine-figure deal to a pitcher like Tatsuya Imai. Giants chairman Greg Johnson has been very clear about the team’s caution in handing out those sorts of deals to pitchers.

SF Giants can pursue two prudent Blue Jays pitchers

The team still has to make additions to the rotation, though. There are two gaping holes in the starting rotation and the Giants would probably be wise to add three or four arms who could potentially start games for them in 2026 to account for injuries or underperformance.

One very sensible addition who would not break the bank is Chris Bassitt. Last season with Toronto the 36-year-old had a 3.96 ERA in 32 appearances and 170 innings pitched. He has made 27 starts or more in every season since 2021 so he presents the sort of durability that the Giants are looking for.

Given his age, he will probably get a two-year deal and ESPN projects he will get a two-year, $34 million deal in free agency.

It would be a very sensible move and I cannot recall the Giants ever signing a veteran pitcher to a two-year deal after a solid season with the Blue Jays and it coming back to bite…oh, wait. Well, that surely wouldn’t happen again. Right?

The other Blue Jays pitcher who makes a lot of sense for the Giants is Max Scherzer. The veteran and future Hall of Fame inductee has been connected to San Francisco ever since Tony Vitello was announced as the manager. The two have a close relationship dating back to their time at the University of Missouri where Vitello was an assistant coach and Scherzer a player.

Scherzer is coming off a middling campaign with Toronto in 2025. He had a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts but pitched decently in the playoffs for the Blue Jays and at least gave them a chance to win.

If the Giants were to sign Scherzer, it would be with the hope that they could replicate the success they had with Justin Verlander last season.

Still, counting on Scherzer to turn into his old self is not the best strategy considering he will be 41 next season. If they do add Scherzer they would probably be wise to add at least one more arm just in case he goes down with an injury.

But if the Giants do not want to spend a lot this offseason, they could probably get Bassitt on a two-year deal and Scherzer on a one-year deal without having to commit more than $50 million in total which would at least give them a respectable five-man rotation entering 2026.