Buster Posey Criticized Giants Bullpen Performance
The team president acknowledged failures in construction after a difficult season ended in San Francisco.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Baseball
Live Poll
Following a disappointing season for your local baseball team, do you plan to attend more games?
San Francisco Giants president Buster Posey has publicly criticized his team's bullpen performance following a 65-win season. Posey accepted personal responsibility for the roster construction, noting that the organization overestimated the quality of its relief staff.
Why it matters
The team finished 35 games behind the division leader, largely due to a bullpen that struggled to maintain leads. This frank assessment sets the stage for a major overhaul of the roster during the upcoming offseason.
The bullpen finished the season with a 4.14 ERA, ranking 19th across all MLB teams. Pitcher Ryan Walker struggled significantly, recording a 7.16 ERA and only three saves in 2026, a sharp decline from his 2.48 ERA during the 2023-2024 period.
The players
Buster Posey
He serves as the president of the San Francisco Giants and is a former star catcher for the franchise.
Ryan Walker
He is a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who experienced a significant statistical decline during the 2026 season.
The details
President Buster Posey acknowledged that the team failed to properly assemble the relief corps, which was further hampered by injuries throughout the infield and pitching staff. The team's 65-win finish mirrored similarly poor performances last seen in 2017.
Timeline
2017 marked the last season with a similarly poor performance.
2023-2024 saw Ryan Walker post a 2.48 ERA.
2026 was the season the Giants completed with 65 wins.
Season Trajectory
This dismal 65-win campaign signals a necessary reset for a franchise that finished 35 games out of first place in the NL West. The team will now look to reverse this downward trend by aggressively addressing depth issues during the upcoming offseason.
The team's reliance on ineffective relief pitching contributed directly to a 35-game deficit behind the NL West leader. Fans should expect heavy turnover in the bullpen and middle-relief depth charts as the front office prioritizes stabilizing the late-inning rotation.
The takeaway
Management has signaled that the current roster construction is not sustainable for long-term success. Expect the organization to prioritize acquisition and depth over internal development to avoid repeating the statistical failures of the 2026 season.
Further reading
For more analysis on team performance, check out our Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsweek.
Live Poll
Following a disappointing season for your local baseball team, do you plan to attend more games?
