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Giants Must Add Proven Starters to Rebuild Thin 2027 Rotation
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- Giants Must Add Proven Starters to Rebuild Thin 2027 Rotation
(© Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)
The San Francisco Giants finished the 2026 season with a 65-97 record and placed fourth in the National League West, 35 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers , which left president of baseball operations Buster Posey with several significant needs to address.
Jung Hoo Lee , Rafael Devers , Willy Adames , Matt Chapman , Casey Schmitt and Bryce Eldridge are expected to return in 2027, providing San Francisco with an established group of position players.
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However, injuries and the team's activity at the trade deadline left much of the supporting cast unsettled .
Rebuilding the starting rotation for Giants
The starting rotation presents one of the greatest concerns.
After trading Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres and Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves , the Giants were left with only Logan Webb and Landen Roupp as established starters they could confidently project into next season's rotation .
Webb's season ended because of a blister, adding another injury to a pitching staff that already faces considerable uncertainty.
Hayden Birdsong , Trevor McDonald and Carson Whisenhunt are expected to miss much of the 2027 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
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Blade Tidwell 's right elbow injury late in the season created another setback and further reduced San Francisco's available rotation depth.
Anthony Molina and Cesar Perdomo made cases for rotation positions through their performances, while other young pitchers deserve opportunities to compete during spring training.
However, Posey still needs to acquire at least one proven starter and another credible pitcher capable of providing innings.
Adding both would allow the Giants' prospects to compete for the remaining openings without immediately placing the responsibility of carrying the pitching staff on inexperienced arms.
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Webb, Roupp as anchors
Webb gives San Francisco a dependable presence at the front of the rotation. He can provide durability, composure and the willingness to accept the demanding responsibility of pitching deep into games.
He attacks hitters with movement, command and confidence rather than relying exclusively on overwhelming velocity. Webb's ability to generate uncomfortable contact and remain calm with runners on base allows him to control difficult innings.
His leadership is equally important for a rotation that could feature several young pitchers. Webb understands how to prepare between starts, manage the physical demands of a full season and respond after poor outings.
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Roupp offers the Giants another pitcher they can reasonably place in next year's rotation. His development gives the team some stability, but asking Webb and Roupp to support an inexperienced staff without proven reinforcements would create unnecessary pressure.
Molina, Perdomo and the organization's other young pitchers need opportunities, patience and clearly defined roles. They should be allowed to earn their places rather than receive them because injuries and trades eliminated every alternative.
The Giants need starters who can remain available, protect the bullpen and provide consistency. Acquiring that support would also allow Webb to lead the rotation without being asked to solve every problem himself.
