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SSan Francisco Giants

Questions in the Giants’ bullpen leave Tony Vitello with a daunting assignment

  • March 16, 2026

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Buster Posey wants Tony Vitello’s job to be as easy as possible.

But that desire doesn’t align with how Posey has constructed Vitello’s first roster.

The Giants’ president of baseball operations addressed most of the team’s weaknesses this offseason, but didn’t equip Vitello with premier talent in the bullpen. The front office and coaching staff have spent the spring evaluating pitchers who could slot into high-leverage situations, but with Opening Day approaching, it’s unclear who Vitello can trust with the game on the line.

Ryan Walker, who posted a 4.11 ERA in 68 appearances last season, is a candidate to close games. Beyond Walker, no one projected to make the 26-man roster has more than a handful of saves.

Former manager Bob Melvin had one of the best bullpens in baseball during the first half of last season when Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, and Randy Rodríguez shut down opponents in the late innings. Then Posey traded Doval and Rogers, Rodríguez had season-ending surgery, and the Giants’ relief corps fell apart.

The group that finished the year included José Buttó, Spencer Bivens, and JT Brubaker and all are poised to secure Opening Day roster spots. They’re fine pitchers, but none throws particularly hard or has a wipeout breaking ball that generates whiffs. 

Fans will judge Vitello on his bullpen management, and without proven set-up men or a reliable closer, the rookie manager could face intense scrutiny if the Giants give away too many games.

The good news? The bullpen shouldn’t be bad all year.

2 days ago

A football player wearing a Buccaneers uniform with number 13 holds the ball in his right arm, running with determination on the field.

5 days ago

A smiling person with glasses and a beige sweater sits in front of a dark blue backdrop featuring white logos and text while holding a microphone.

Friday, Mar. 6

A man wearing a black Giants hoodie and cap, sunglasses, and a baseball glove is throwing a baseball on a field with a blurred background.

Offseason signings Sam Hentges and Jason Foley are returning from surgeries, but both should help this season. The Giants’ 2021 first-round draft pick, Will Bednar, isn’t quite ready for the majors, but with a 98-mph fastball and a good slider, he could be counted on by May or June. Non-roster invitees Caleb Killian and Gregory Santos — who cost the team a perfect game on Sunday — are better than several pitchers with 40-man roster spots, and the Giants could easily reward either with a job at the end of spring.

Then there’s Keaton Winn, who has 28 MLB games, a 5.93 career ERA, and a long injury history on his resume. The former starter is throwing 99 mph and has a promising splitter, which means Vitello may disregard the track record and trust Winn in the seventh or eighth inning right away. 

If the Giants start winning, there’s more hope for Vitello, too. After Posey decimated Melvin’s bullpen at last year’s deadline, the former NL MVP may feel emboldened to add to it this year. 

Vitello’s debut season might not be easy, but Posey can make it a little more manageable by giving his manager a more capable bullpen along the way.