SF Giants sign former Reds, Royals reliever to minor league deal

The SF Giants bolstered their bullpen options by signing former Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals reliever Amir Garrett to a minor league deal.

In an effort to add to their lackluster left-handed relief options, the SF Giants signed veteran left-handed reliever Amir Garrett to a minor league deal. The deal was first reported by FanSided's Robert Murray. If Garrett makes the team's big-league roster, he will receive a $1.35 million base salary.

Royals lefty Amir Garrett pitches during a game. (2023) / William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett, 31, pitched in 27 games with the Kansas City Royals in 2024 and posted relatively respectable numbers –– 3.33 ERA in 24 ⅓ innings with an impressive 25% strikeout rate. Even though those numbers were positive, Garrett’s 17.9% walk rate –– a number that’s climbed steadily since 2020 –– and scathing .801 OPS against were enough to concern upper management in Kansas City. Many of the peripherals indicating loud contact against him were enough for them to flat-out release him by July 15.

The Giants are far from rich in the lefty reliever conversation. Taylor Rogers stands alone as the only established impact arm on the 40-man roster while newly acquired former Milwaukee Brewers prospect Ethan Small carries little big league experience and Erik Miller has none. In this regard, it won’t be difficult to see Garrett receive an extended look in Scottsdale during camp.

The southpaw reached a minor league pact a few days later with the Cleveland Guardians, but struggled in five outings with Triple-A Columbus –– three earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts in 4 ⅔ innings.

The possibility of Garrett turning things around could still be possible, especially considering the aforementioned position shortage on the 40-man roster.

Garrett was a standout basketball recruit for St. John's University –– the same college that produced Giants fan favorites Rich Aurilia and Joe Panik –– before opting to play baseball full-time, leading to the Cincinnati Reds selecting him with their 22nd round pick in the 2011 draft.

Garrett made his MLB debut in 2017 and became one of the more dependable relievers out of the Reds bullpen. From 2019-2020, Garrett was one of the best left-handed setup arms in the game. In 90 appearances, he recorded a 3.03 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 42 walks in 74.1 innings pitched. Over his five MLB seasons with the Reds, however, he posted a 4.95 ERA with 376 strikeouts and 188 walks in 325.1 innings pitched.

The SF Giants will hope that their coaching staff can help a 31-year old Amir Garrett regain enough command of his pitches to be at least a viable middle reliever for manager Bob Melvin. Given the dearth of other left-handed options in camp, he seems to have a good chance of joining San Francisco's pitching staff in the regular season.