The San Francisco Giants must improve more than the most recognizable areas of their roster this offseason.

Their priorities also include finding pitchers who can cover unplanned innings, adding dependable infield depth and constructing a bench that gives manager Tony Vitello useful alternatives whenever injuries or poor performances require changes.

Kevin Ginkel could help San Francisco address its need for reliable bullpen depth. The Giants should monitor the right-hander’s market closely as the offseason progresses and consider pursuing him once free agency develops.

Ginkel completed the 2026 season with a 4.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 67.2 innings over 74 appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, his 3.55 xERA and 3.50 FIP suggested that he performed better than his ERA indicated.

The right-hander also recorded three saves and 11 holds, demonstrating that he could handle more important assignments when needed rather than being restricted to low-leverage situations.

Ginkel’s season became more difficult during the later months. He struggled significantly in August, posting a 9.28 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 10.2 innings over 13 appearances.

That poor stretch damaged his final numbers and may influence how teams evaluate him. However, his workload and underlying results provide reasons to believe that his complete season was more encouraging than the final ERA alone suggests.

Ginkel also played an important role in Arizona’s bullpen during the team’s 2023 World Series appearance against the Texas Rangers.

His positive contributions during that run deserve to be remembered, even though he will likely continue his career with another organization.

San Francisco should pursue him because he offers the type of flexibility that could help stabilize the middle innings.

Ginkel has experience entering games before the final inning, protecting narrow advantages and responding when a starter leaves earlier than anticipated.

He would not need to become the centerpiece of the Giants’ bullpen. Instead, he could serve as a dependable bridge between the rotation and the team’s leading late-inning relievers.

That role would allow Vitello to avoid overworking the same pitchers whenever the schedule becomes demanding.

Ginkel attacks hitters with confidence and does not need a save opportunity to remain effective. His previous exposure to a World Series race also means that important situations would not be unfamiliar to him.

His difficult August creates some risk, but it could also prevent his market from becoming prohibitively expensive. San Francisco could pursue him without treating the signing as its only bullpen addition.

A reasonable agreement would give Ginkel an opportunity to rebound while providing the Giants with another experienced pitcher capable of accepting different assignments.

For a team that needs greater reliability throughout its roster, that combination makes him a sensible offseason target.