The San Francisco Giants are the biggest disappointment of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, and now they’re predicted to part ways with veteran reliever JT Brubaker, an impending free agent they surprisingly held onto at the deadline. It’s a rough scene in manager Tony Vitello’s first year at the helm, where a team far out of postseason contention became major sellers, moving guys like Robbie Ray and Luis Arraez who were on expiring contracts. But the Brubaker situation? That’s just wild.
“Biggest Disappointment” Says It All
Let’s be real, the Giants are a mess. They’re way out of any playoff picture, and for a club that kept big names like Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, becoming deadline sellers felt inevitable. The big question, though, isn’t just *who* they traded, but *who they didn’t*. Impending free agents are always top candidates to be moved for future assets, especially when a season goes sideways like this one has for San Francisco. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman hit it right on the head, saying it was “a bit surprising that they held on to JT Brubaker, another veteran who is set to hit free agency after the season.”
Brubaker’s Numbers Scream “Trade Me!”
This isn’t some scrub we’re talking about, either. Brubaker might not light up the radar gun with massive strikeout numbers, but he’s been solid. He’s rocking a 3.59 ERA through 39 appearances and 57.2 innings pitched. That’s good work! He’s also fantastic at keeping the ball in the park and boasts a strong 41.5 percent groundball rate. You telling me a contending team wouldn’t want an arm like that in their bullpen for a late-season push? Rotman wondered if the Giants “wouldn’t have gotten much for Brubaker, but he’s pitched well enough … that they would’ve been able to get something, right?” It’s a fair question, and one that has Giants fans scratching their heads.
So What’s Next for Brubaker?
Holding onto Brubaker doesn’t mean he’s sticking around, especially with his contract status. He’s about to hit free agency, meaning he can sign with any of the other 29 teams out there. The smart money says he’s gone. While the Giants *could* try to re-sign him for 2027,and Rotman even noted it would make sense “given the state of their bullpen” if he were “open to staying put”,it just doesn’t feel likely. Honestly, if he winds up elsewhere, it won’t be considered a major loss by the Giants, despite him being a reliable arm this year. For Brubaker, it means a fresh start. For the Giants, it just means another question mark in an already disappointing season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply