The San Francisco Giants have to make a decision on Joey Lucchesi.
That may not seem like a big deal, and in some ways it's not. But it's the next thing on San Francisco's plate. What will the Giants do with the lefty reliever?
The key is Friday's non-tender deadline.
For players eligible for arbitration, teams have to decide whether they are going to extend a given player a contract.
If they don't want to tender a contract, that player is considered "non-tendered" and becomes a free agent.
Lucchesi is in that situation and is listed by MLB Trade Rumors as a non-tender candidate.
That same website projects that Lucchesi would earn $2 million in salary arbitration.
MORE: Kyle Tucker trade isn't aging well for Cubs
Lucchesi was once a promising prospect for the San Diego Padres, but his career has been a bit winding since then.
The 2025 season was the 6-foot-5 lefty's first year with the Giants, and he was really solid. In 38 games, Lucchesi had a 3.76 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
One problem with Lucchesi going forward, though, is injury history.
He pitched three games in MLB in 2020, 11 in 2021, missed all of 2022, threw nine MLB games in 2023 and then just two in 2024.
The Giants, in making their decision, likely have as good of information as anyone on his health. That may be the key determining factor here. If Lucchesi seems likely to be healthy, he's not a bad guy to keep around.
If not, it may not be worth the hassle.
More MLB news:
- Mariners' Jorge Polanco free agent plans encounter a road block
- Pirates' infielder leaving MLB to play in Japan
- Red Sox 'still kicking themselves' for 187-HR mistake
- Munetaka Murakami given 5 free agent landing spots
- SF Giants predicted to sign George Kittle's brother-in-law
- Tarik Skubal is a 'perfect' fit for the Mets