Despite not actively shopping closer Giants in Chicago”>Camilo Doval, the San Francisco Giants are fielding “strong” trade interest in the hard-throwing right-hander, according to Susan slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Doval, 27, presents an intriguing trade possibility even after a disappointing 2024 season. The right-hander earned All-Star honors in 2023, leading the National League in saves and enjoying his second consecutive stellar year as the Giants’ closer. However, 2024 saw him struggle wiht inconsistency, leading to a brief demotion to the minors in August. Upon his return, he was replaced as closer by right-hander Ryan Walker. Doval finished the year with a 4.88 ERA and a 3.71 FIP,a strong 28.8% strikeout rate overshadowed by a concerning 14.4% walk rate.
“While the wide chasm between Doval’s ERA and FIP along with an elevated .333 BABIP and a below-average 68.2% strand rate might suggest Doval was simply unlucky in 2024,there are plenty of red flags that figure to give potential suitors pause. That walk rate is surely particularly concerning to interested clubs, seeing as it was the second-highest figure among qualified relievers last year.Only southpaw Aroldis Chapman walked batters at a higher clip than Doval, and chapman’s 37% strikeout rate last year dwarfs even Doval’s best figures in his career.”
Despite the struggles of 2024, Doval’s talent is undeniable. Before this season, his career numbers were elite. In 162 1/3 innings across three seasons with the Giants, he dominated with a 2.77 ERA, a 2.97 FIP, a 30.2% strikeout rate, a 9.6% walk rate, and 69 saves. Doval excels at inducing ground balls, posting a 55.2% grounder rate in his career, ranking fourth among relievers with at least 200 innings over the past four seasons. Even in his down year, he generated grounders at an impressive 60% clip, good for seventh in the league among qualified relievers.
The question for potential suitors is whether Doval’s 2024 struggles were a fluke or a sign of things to come. His high walk rate is a major concern, and teams will need to weigh that against his undeniable talent and remaining three years of team control.
if the Giants believe Doval can return to his previous form, they might potentially be hesitant to part with him. however, the strong trade interest suggests that other teams see the potential in the talented right-hander, even with his recent struggles.
The San Francisco Giants are entering the offseason with a wealth of talent in their bullpen, particularly in the high-leverage situations. This abundance of arms could make closer Camilo Doval a potential trade chip, according to a recent report by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Doval, who emerged as a dominant force in 2023, is projected to continue his stellar performance in the coming years. However, Slusser suggests that the Giants might be open to listening to offers for the young closer, especially if those offers address other areas of need for the team.
“If Doval bounces back to his previous form in 2025, it would be a bold choice for the club to move him for what would surely be a lower price than he could garner following a dominant season—or even half of one, should San Francisco be in position to sell at this summer’s trade deadline,” Slusser writes.
Given Doval’s immense potential, trading him now might not be the most strategic move. The Giants could explore other trade options involving players like LaMonte Wade Jr. or Mike Yastrzemski, both of whom have been rumored to be available.
slusser notes that the Giants are likely to entertain “significant offers” for Doval, recognizing the team’s strong bullpen depth.Alongside Doval and fellow closer John Brebbia, the giants boast a formidable late-inning arsenal that includes taylor Rogers, Tyler Rogers, Erik Miller, and Jordan Hicks.
“Hicks was also used as a late inning option down the stretch this year, but he appears likely to be ticketed for the rotation after an up-and-down season that saw him make 20 starts and enjoy some success in the role during the first half,” Slusser adds.
## Giants Bullpen Depth Spurs Camilo Doval Trade Speculation
The san Francisco Giants are rumored to be fielding trade offers for standout closer Camilo Doval,despite not actively shopping the hard-throwing righty. This intriguing advancement comes after a somewhat disappointing 2024 season for Doval, who had previously been an All-Star and one of the league’s most dominant relievers.
### Can Camilo Doval Rebound to All-Star Form?
**Senior Editor:** Welcome back to World Today News. Joining us today is MLB analyst and insider, Sarah Jones. Sarah, thanks for being here. To start, what’s your take on the reports that the Giants are hearing offers for Camilo Doval?
**Sarah Jones:** Thanks for having me. I think it’s syndicated at this point, it’s not uncommon for teams with strong bullpens, like the Giants are likely to have interest themselves pitting other teams that might see them as a position to leverage.
**Senior Editor:** Doval’s 2024 definitely wasn’t up to his previous standards. While his strikeout numbers were still decent, his walk rate was a major concern. Is this something teams are worried about?
**Sarah Jones:** Absolutely. The jump in walk rate is a huge red flag. Some teams might believe it was just a blip, maybe a mechanical issue he can iron out. Though, a lot of teams will be hesitant to give up meaningful assets for a player who suddenly seems less reliable.
### Giants’ Bullpen Depth Fueling Doval Trade Rumors?
**Senior Editor:** Doval was the Giants’ closer in 2023, but lost the role down the stretch this past season. How does the Giants’ bullpen depth factor into this situation?
**Sarah Jones:** It’s huge. They’ve got a lot of arms who can handle high-leverage situations, guys like John Brebbia, Tyler Rogers, and even Jordan Hicks who could potentially move to the bullpen. Having that depth allows them to consider moving on from Doval if they get the right offer.
**Senior Editor:** So,do you think we’ll see Doval traded?
**Sarah Jones:** It’s tough to say for sure.If the Giants get a truly compelling offer, one that addresses a major need on their roster, they might be tempted to pull the trigger. but they also might decide to hold onto him and see if he can bounce back to his 2023 form.Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
**Senior Editor:** Thank you so much for your insight,Sarah. This is certainly a situation worth watching as the offseason unfolds.
**sarah Jones:** My pleasure. Always happy to talk baseball!
