Report: SF Giants, Dodgers 'already active' in free-agent pitching market

The SF Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers are "already active on starting pitchers" this offseason, per a report by MLB.com's Jon Morosi.

The SF Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers appear to already be competing for some of the same free agents this offseason. According to a report by Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Dodgers and Giants "are already active" in the free-agent market for starting pitchers. Morosi also reported that free-agent lefty Eduardo Rodríguez (10th-best free agent) has no geographic restrictions in free agency. Rodríguez, of course, exercised his no-trade clause to reject a trade to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, it was largely expected that he would only be open to East Coast teams in free agency.

"Source: LHP Eduardo Rodríguez has informed teams he has no geographic restrictions in free agency," Morosi wrote. "That is encouraging for the Dodgers and Giants, who are already active on starting pitchers."

It may be a bit surprising to see the Giants so active on the starting pitching front to some. After all, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi told reporters last month that he did not expect the Giants to add rotation depth this offseason. Veterans Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani are all slated to be back with the team in 2024 alongside pitching prospects Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn, and Tristan Beck who had flashes of success in the majors this season. 

However, Webb and Cobb are the only returning pitchers who completed at least 150 innings pitched this season and Cobb is now expected to be out on Opening Day after undergoing hip surgery. So, while there is impressive depth, Zaidi did hint that the front office would be open to proven starters. 

"Anytime you have a chance to add top of the rotation options, we'll look at it, but for guys that are more back of the rotation options, we just don't view that as a need," Zaidi told reporters last month.

It's already been reported that the Giants, in fact, will not be outbid for right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2nd-best free agent). Rodríguez may not be on par with Yamamoto but is one of the best free-agent starters available. 

Rodríguez, 30, has been a consistent mid-rotation starter since his MLB debut in 2015. He missed the start of the 2023 season for personal reasons and spent some time on the injured list with a blister. However, he still finished the year with a 3.30 ERA (4.04 xERA, 3.66 FIP, 4.06 xFIP), 143 strikeouts, and 43 walks in 152.2 innings pitched (26 starts).

Eduardo Rodríguez already ingratiated himself with SF Giants fans when he refused to join the Dodgers this summer. While it's hard to know where he will end up this offseason, joining the Orange and Black would be a fun way to spice up the biggest West Coast MLB rivalry.