The San Francisco Giants have made it clear this offseason: they’re going for volume in the bullpen, not necessarily star power. They’ve brought in a handful of arms on low-cost deals, most of them coming off injuries, hoping to find value in the margins. But with the relief corps still looking thin and unproven, there’s a name that makes a lot of sense for a reunion – Pierce Johnson.

Now, Giants fans might not immediately light up at the mention of Johnson. His first stint in San Francisco back in 2018 wasn’t exactly memorable – 37 appearances, a 5.56 ERA, and not much to hang your hat on. That season was forgettable for a reason, and Johnson probably wouldn’t mind keeping it in the rearview mirror either.

But here’s the thing: Johnson isn’t the same pitcher he was eight years ago. Since leaving the Bay, he’s quietly rebuilt his career and turned into a reliable late-inning option.

He found his groove with the Padres, and more recently, he’s been a steady presence in Atlanta’s bullpen. In 2025, he posted a 3.05 ERA across 65 appearances – a strong showing that speaks to both consistency and durability.

Sure, Giants fans might remember one of those outings last season for the wrong reason – a walk-off homer he gave up to Matt Chapman. But zoom out, and you see a reliever who handled high-leverage innings in a playoff-caliber bullpen. That’s the kind of experience the Giants could use right now.

So far, the Giants’ bullpen additions have followed a clear pattern: low-cost, high-risk. Sam Hentges, Jason Foley, Gregory Santos, and Nick Margevicius all fit the mold – talented arms, but each comes with question marks, mostly tied to health.

The front office is clearly betting on upside, hoping that a few of these reclamation projects pan out. But it’s a thin line to walk when your bullpen lacks a clear identity.

Right now, Ryan Walker looks like the most likely option to close games, which isn’t exactly a slam dunk after how 2025 ended. Walker has shown flashes, but relying on him as the anchor of the bullpen feels more like necessity than choice.

That’s why a guy like Johnson makes so much sense. He’s healthy, experienced, and effective – a rare trio in this market, especially at a potentially affordable price.

He wouldn’t need to be the closer, but he could absolutely stabilize the middle innings or serve as a setup man. And in a bullpen full of “maybe” arms, adding a “known quantity” could go a long way.

The Giants’ approach this winter has been conservative, especially on the pitching side. They’ve avoided the big-ticket free agents, instead opting for modest deals like Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle in the rotation. And when it came to the bullpen, they stayed far away from the top-end closers on the market.

It’s a gamble – if these budget-friendly moves click, the front office looks like a group of savvy roster-builders. If they don’t, the criticism will come fast, especially from a fan base that watched the team fall short last season and expected more urgency.

But if the goal is to build a competitive bullpen without breaking the bank, Pierce Johnson is the kind of move that fits the plan – and actually raises the floor. He won’t fix everything, but he’d give the Giants one more dependable option in a bullpen that badly needs a few.