Giants Eye Nick Martinez in Rotation Rebuild
Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly predicts San Francisco will pursue the right-hander who helped the Tampa Bay Rays reach the World Series.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Baseball
Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly predicts the San Francisco Giants will target Nick Martinez this offseason after the team finished near the bottom of the National League standings in 2026. Kelly projects a two-year, $36 million contract for the veteran right-hander.
Why it matters
The Giants are looking for rotation upgrades after a difficult 2026 season, and Martinez's recent numbers make him a notable option. Adding a reliable starter could help stabilize the team's pitching depth behind Logan Webb.
Martinez posted a 15-6 record, 3.10 ERA and 2.9 bWAR across 31 starts with Tampa Bay, while Kelly projects a two-year, $36 million contract compared with the Giants' recent one-year deals of $15 million for Verlander and $10 million for Mahle. Whether San Francisco will pursue Martinez or meet that price remains unconfirmed.
The players
Nick Martinez
Nick Martinez is a right-handed starting pitcher whose 2026 season with the Tampa Bay Rays drew attention as a possible free-agent target.
Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly is a Bleacher Report baseball writer who published the prediction that the Giants will pursue Martinez.
Buster Posey
Buster Posey is the San Francisco Giants' president of baseball operations, a former MVP catcher who won three World Series titles with the franchise.
The details
Kelly predicts the Giants will target a right-handed veteran who helped the Rays make their World Series run, noting that Robbie Ray's salary is off the books for San Francisco. FanGraphs lists Logan Webb, Landen Roupp, Adrian Houser, Anthony Molina and Matt Wilkinson as the Giants' top five starters.
Timeline
2026: Giants finish near the bottom of the National League standings.
Two offseasons ago: Giants sign Justin Verlander to a one-year, $15 million deal.
Last winter: Giants sign Tyler Mahle to a one-year, $10 million deal.
July: Drew Rasmussen calls Martinez "the best teammate ever."
This offseason: Buster Posey is expected to look for roster upgrades.
Roadmap
The Giants have leaned on one-year veteran signings such as Justin Verlander's $15 million deal and Tyler Mahle's $10 million deal in recent offseasons. A two-year commitment to Martinez, as Kelly projects, would mark a shift away from that approach toward longer-term rotation stability.
If the Giants sign Martinez, he would likely slot in as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter behind Logan Webb. Fantasy managers tracking the rotation should watch for contract news this offseason.
The takeaway
Rotation depth often decides a team's fortunes, and the Giants' offseason moves will show whether they prioritize short-term veterans or longer commitments. Watch for signings that reshape their starting five.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Baseball coverage in San Francisco.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sporting News.
