6 days ago
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The San Francisco Giants knew that they needed some additional depth in starting pitchers heading into the 2026 MLB season.
With hours remaining in 2025, the Giants reportedly have done just that.
According to a report from MLB.com reporter Thomas Harrigan and Giants reporter Maria Guardado for MLB.com, San Francisco has signed right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle to a one-year contract.
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Mahle joins the Giants at a time where he has to try and prove he's worthy of a spot in the Giants' pitching arsenal for manager Tony Vitello.
Last season, Mahle spent three different times on the disabled list due to right shoulder fatigue. He's also been battling back from undergoing Tommy John surgery.
What the Giants hope to get out of Mahle is something along the lines of what he provided the Texas Rangers when he was with the team last season. The Rangers didn't make a qualifying offer to Mahle, so there is no need for a draft pick compensation.
According to MLB.com, "Mahle finished the year with a 2.18 ERA over 86 2/3 innings for the Rangers, ranking fourth behind Nathan Eovaldi, Trevor Rogers and Paul Skenes among pitchers who made at least 15 starts."
When Mahle has been able to pitch, he's shown to be somewhat effective. Since the beginning of 2020, Mahle has a 3.61 ERA (121 ERA+) with a 3.77 FIP over 473 1/3 innings.
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It appears that the Giants will put Mahle into the starting rotation. He'll be joined by another recent addition in Adrian Houser.
Mahle is a native of California, so this is a homecoming for him.
What was Mahle's best full season in the majors? Well, it was his last one. Mahle pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, where he pitched 180 innings (a career high) and had 210 strikeouts (another career high).
Mahle posted a 3.75 ERA (125 ERA+) in that 2021 season. He was then dealt to the Minnesota Twins, where he had limited opportunities to help the Twins out due to injuries.
Mahle signed a two-year contract with the Rangers when he hit free agency.
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For Mahle, the key thing will be doing his best to stay healthy and able to pitch on a regular basis. Vitello and Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey are hopeful that will be the case.
Look for Mahle to do his best to impress not only Vitello and Posey, but Giants fans, too, at Oracle Park. If he can pitch anywhere like he did in 2021 for the Reds, then it'll be a super pickup for the Giants indeed.
San Francisco, of course, has Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landon Roupp already penciled into the starting rotation for 2026.
Giants fans are hopeful this deal will bode well for better starting pitching next season, too.
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