Sam Hentges, a left‑handed pitcher selected by the Guardians in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, is starting fresh with a new club. On November 27, 2025, it was reported that San Francisco Giants agreed to a one‑year, $1.4 million contract with Hentges for the upcoming 2026 season.
Hentges’ path to San Francisco has been interrupted by significant injury woes. After transitioning from a swingman starter to a bullpen mainstay in 2022, he flourished — posting a 2.32 ERA and a 0.968 WHIP across 57 games that season, establishing himself as a trusted out‑of‑the‑pen arm.
In 2024, Hentges still showed flashes of effectiveness: in 23.2 innings, he struck out 27 batters and maintained a solid ERA of 3.04. But history caught up with him: arm troubles led to shoulder surgery by the end of 2024, and he didn’t appear in a major‑league game during 2025. The lefty also underwent knee surgery in September.
Given the injury history and lost season, the Guardians opted not to tender Hentges a contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. It didn’t take long for the Giants to show interest — and commit. Their willingness to guarantee a major‑league contract, rather than a minor‑league invitation, suggests they see value in Hentges’ past performance and believe in his recovery. 
For the Giants, who have recently made trades that thinned their bullpen, adding Hentges offers a low-risk, potentially high-reward option. If he can return to his previous form, Hentges could provide left‑handed depth and late‑inning versatility — both highly valued in a modern bullpen.
From Cleveland’s standpoint, Hentges’ departure may not dramatically alter their offseason plans; the Guardians still need dependable bullpen pieces for 2026. But his exit does mark the end of a long build — from a 2014 draftee to a two‑year stretch of bullpen reliability.
Looking ahead, the 2026 season represents a fresh chance for Hentges. If he can stay healthy and recapture the strike‑out pitchability and control that made him effective earlier in his career, the move to San Francisco might rejuvenate his major‑league trajectory. And for the Giants, what now seems like a modest gamble could pay off with the return of a proven arm.
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