Trevor Rosenthal is a San Francisco Giant.
The eight-year veteran reliever signed a one-year deal at a rate of $4.5 million, the Giants announced Thursday. Rosenthal, 32, hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2020 due to various injuries.
Rosenthal has 132 career saves and a lifetime 3.36 ERA. He spent the bulk of his career with the Cardinals, but has also pitched for the Padres, Royals, Nationals and Tigers.
The Giants immediately placed Rosenthal on the 15-day injured list with a hamstring strain and sent him to Arizona, where he’ll rehab. Since he hasn’t pitched at the MLB level for so long, he’ll likely need significant time to ramp up.
Rosenthal missed the 2021 season after undergoing surgery to correct Thoracic Outlet Syndrome — a condition that impacts the nerves between your collar bone and ribs. He also got surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip last July.
The rare midseason, big-money acquisition represents an upper-cut swing for the Giants’ front office. If Rosenthal can rehab and return to his 2020 self, he could bolster a bullpen unit that designated Jake McGee for assignment and is dealing with injuries to José Álvarez and Mauricio Llovera. SF transferred Llovera to the 60-day IL to make roster space for Rosenthal.
The language in the the team’s press release suggests Rosenthal’s contract will be prorated, meaning he’ll earn roughly $2 million for about two months of work. There are also several performance bonuses Rosenthal could hit, for games played and games finished.
Rosenthal was an All-Star 2015, when he recorded 48 saves and posted a 2.10 ERA with the Cardinals. He signed a one-year deal with the Athletics to be their closer for 2021, but didn’t throw a pitch for them. Now his comeback continues with the Giants.
