The San Francisco Giants have several decisions to make before the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, with the organization facing another opportunity to strengthen its pitching depth from within.

San Francisco recently reduced its 40-man roster to comply with Major League Baseball's deadline for reinstating players from the 60-day Injured List. The Giants accomplished that by parting ways with nine players, including right-handers José Buttó and Tristan Beck.

However, additional roster adjustments could be necessary as the organization evaluates its offseason plans. Beyond making room for potential free-agent additions, San Francisco must determine which Rule 5-eligible prospects deserve a spot on the roster.

The deadline to protect eligible players is Nov. 17. Among the candidates are left-handers Henry Lalane and Joe Whitman, two pitchers who could provide different options for the Giants' pitching staff.

Lalane entered the Giants organization at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline after being acquired from the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder Heliot Ramos.

The 22-year-old quickly became an interesting addition to San Francisco's pitching pipeline, finishing the regular season with a 3.16 ERA across 21 appearances, including 20 starts. He pitched at three different minor-league levels before making two additional postseason appearances with High-A Eugene and Double-A Richmond.

His workload represented another important step in his development. Lalane accumulated 105 innings during the 2026 season, surpassing the combined total from his previous four professional campaigns.

The 6-foot-7 left-hander also showed considerable improvement in his pitching arsenal after previously dealing with left shoulder problems. His fastball, which generally sat around 91-92 mph during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, gained velocity and now operates in the mid-90s while occasionally reaching 98 mph.

Lalane complements his fastball with a changeup and sweeper, giving him multiple pitches to work with as he continues developing as a starter.

Whitman represents another left-handed pitching candidate who could receive consideration for a 40-man roster spot.

San Francisco selected Whitman with a supplemental pick in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He spent the 2026 season pitching between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento, recording a 3.54 ERA across 32 appearances.

The 25-year-old made 24 starts, although his responsibilities changed after reaching Sacramento. While he primarily worked as a starter in Richmond, the Giants gave him opportunities in both the rotation and bullpen with the River Cats.

That flexibility could make him particularly appealing as the organization considers its pitching depth heading into 2027.

Whitman finished his Triple-A season on a positive note, posting a 1.71 ERA over his final four starts. His fastball generally operates in the mid-90s, while his slider remains an important part of his repertoire.

Unlike Lalane, who still has considerable development ahead of him, Whitman is closer to potentially contributing at the Major-League level.

The Giants must determine whether either pitcher warrants immediate protection, but both offer different possibilities as the organization continues rebuilding its pitching depth.