The Giants are turning to veteran righty Tyler Mahle as part of a budget-conscious plan to reinforce their rotation for 2026.

IMAGE: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tyler Mahle (51) throws during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Globe Life Field. / Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images

The San Francisco Giants aren’t swinging for the fences this offseason, but they’re making smart, calculated moves to shore up their starting rotation. The latest addition? Veteran right-hander Tyler Mahle, who’s reportedly joining the club on a one-year deal.

This is the second pitching pickup for San Francisco this winter, following their two-year, $22 million agreement with Adrian Houser. With Logan Webb locked in as the ace and lefty Robbie Ray expected to return healthy, the Giants are clearly focused on building out a rotation that can hold steady over a 162-game grind. Landen Roup is another young arm in the mix, but the depth behind those names needed reinforcement-and that’s where Mahle comes in.

Let’s talk about what Mahle brings to the table.

The 29-year-old has logged nine seasons in the big leagues, splitting time with the Reds, Twins, and most recently, the Rangers. His 2025 campaign in Texas was short but impressive: a 2.18 ERA over 16 starts, flashing the kind of form that made him a sought-after mid-rotation arm just a few years ago.

That said, durability has been the big question mark. Mahle pitched just three games in 2024, posting a 4.97 ERA, and injuries have been a recurring theme over the past few seasons.

Still, when he’s healthy, Mahle is more than capable of giving a team quality innings. His time with the Twins in 2022 and 2023-where he registered a 3.64 ERA across nine starts-offered glimpses of that potential. And while his early years with the Reds came with some growing pains (a 4.35 ERA over 114 games from 2017 to early 2022), he’s developed into a pitcher who knows how to navigate a lineup with a solid fastball-slider mix and good command when he’s right.

For the Giants, this is a classic low-risk, high-upside play. Rather than diving into the deep end of the free-agent pool for a name like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, or Zac Gallen, San Francisco is taking a more budget-conscious route.

Mahle’s one-year deal gives them flexibility and the chance to catch lightning in a bottle. If he stays healthy and pitches anything like he did in 2025, this could be one of the more underrated signings of the offseason.

It’s also a move that fits the Giants’ recent approach-adding proven veterans on short-term deals to stabilize the rotation while giving younger arms time to develop. Mahle doesn’t need to be the ace; he just needs to be a steady presence in the middle or back end of the rotation. And if things go well, there’s always the possibility of a midseason extension or flipping him at the deadline if the team’s out of contention.

Bottom line: Mahle’s signing isn’t flashy, but it’s smart. The Giants are adding depth, experience, and potential upside to a rotation that needed all three. And if Mahle can stay on the mound, San Francisco might have just found a valuable piece for 2026.