Joey Lucchesi first arrived in San Francisco on a minor-league contract during the previous offseason, looking for an opportunity to reestablish himself at the major league level. His deal did not guarantee him a roster spot, but it gave him a chance to compete for a role with the club. After spending the early part of the season working his way through the organization, Lucchesi eventually had his contract selected in the middle of June, earning a call-up to the big-league roster. Once he joined the Giants’ bullpen, he went on to pitch 38 1/3 innings over the remainder of the season. During that stretch, he produced a respectable 3.76 ERA while posting a 7.3 percent walk rate and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate.
Those numbers suggested a fairly steady performance in relief. His earned run average indicated that he was able to limit damage in most outings, and his walk rate showed reasonable command, avoiding too many free passes. While his strikeout rate was not particularly dominant, it remained serviceable, especially for a pitcher who often relied on weak contact rather than overpowering hitters. One of the most notable elements of his performance was his ability to induce ground balls. Lucchesi generated grounders at an impressive 53 percent rate, which helped him keep the ball in the park and avoid big innings.
Despite those solid underlying results, the Giants ultimately decided not to tender him a contract at the end of the season. Tendering a contract would have required the team to keep him through the arbitration process, where he was projected to earn around $2 million. Instead, the organization chose to move in a different direction rather than commit that amount of money to Lucchesi for the following season. As a result, he entered the offseason as a free agent, available for other teams that might be interested in adding left-handed pitching depth.
The 2025 season was somewhat unusual in the context of Lucchesi’s major league career. Over the course of his seven seasons in the big leagues, he had previously worked in a variety of roles, including starting games and serving as a hybrid pitcher capable of moving between the rotation and the bullpen. However, 2025 marked the first time he was used strictly as a reliever for an entire season. The Giants deployed him exclusively out of the bullpen, and his appearances reflected that specialized role.
In fact, he rarely worked extended outings during the year. Out of his 38 appearances for San Francisco, he pitched more than one inning in only seven of them. This usage pattern suggests that the team viewed him less as a swingman or multi-inning reliever and more as a conventional bullpen arm tasked with shorter stints. Rather than being used to cover multiple innings or step into spot starts, Lucchesi was typically called upon for brief relief appearances.
That shift could signal a potential evolution in how teams see him going forward. While earlier in his career he might have been valued for his versatility and ability to move between starting and relieving roles, he may now be settling into a more traditional relief profile. At the same time, the fact that he has shown the capacity to occasionally pitch longer outings still provides some flexibility. Even if he is not a full-time long reliever, his ability to stretch beyond a single inning when necessary could remain a useful asset for whichever team he joins next.
Another factor working in Lucchesi’s favor throughout his career has been his effectiveness against left-handed hitters. Opposing lefties have struggled to produce much offense against him, which adds value for a pitcher trying to carve out a niche in a bullpen role. Over the course of his career, left-handed batters have been limited to a slash line of .219/.296/.301 when facing him. Those numbers indicate that they have not only struggled to hit for average against him but have also had difficulty reaching base or generating power.
That success against same-handed hitters could make him appealing as a situational option for teams seeking a left-handed reliever capable of neutralizing tough lefty bats. Even though modern bullpen usage has shifted somewhat away from strictly defined matchup roles, having a pitcher who consistently suppresses production from left-handed hitters remains a valuable trait.
However, Lucchesi does face a complication that could affect his chances of sticking with a new team: he is out of minor league options. This means that if he is placed on a major league roster, the team cannot freely send him down to the minors without first exposing him to waivers. Because of this restriction, teams may hesitate to carry him unless they feel confident he can contribute at the major league level immediately.
For pitchers in this situation, roster flexibility becomes a major factor. If Lucchesi were to struggle or if a team needed to make room for another player, the organization might have little choice but to designate him for assignment. That would place him in the uncertain territory of the waiver wire, where other teams could claim him or he could potentially be removed from the roster entirely. Players who are out of options sometimes find themselves repeatedly cycling through this process, moving between organizations as teams shuffle their bullpen depth.
As a result, Lucchesi could end up occupying the role that is often described as the “26th man” on a roster—the last player on the pitching staff whose position can be somewhat precarious. In that capacity, he might serve as depth while also facing the constant possibility of being replaced if a team needs to make changes.
Even with those challenges, there are still reasons to believe he will attract interest on the market. Left-handed pitching is consistently in demand across the league, particularly in bullpen roles. Many teams value having multiple lefties available, both for matchup purposes and for overall staff balance. Because of that ongoing need, pitchers who can reliably get left-handed hitters out often find opportunities, even if those opportunities sometimes come on short-term or minor-league deals.
Given Lucchesi’s track record, he may not have to wait long before another organization decides to give him a chance. His respectable results with the Giants, combined with his experience and ability to handle left-handed batters, could make him a useful addition for a team seeking bullpen depth. While his role might not be guaranteed and could depend heavily on performance, he still possesses attributes that could translate into value for a club willing to take a look.
Ultimately, Lucchesi’s next step will likely involve proving that he can continue to succeed in a relief role. If he can replicate or improve upon the results he produced in San Francisco—maintaining solid command, generating ground balls, and limiting production from left-handed hitters—he could carve out a steady place in a bullpen. On the other hand, if his performance slips or roster constraints become an issue, he may have to navigate the uncertainty that often accompanies pitchers who are out of minor league options.
For now, though, his profile remains that of an experienced left-handed arm who has shown the ability to contribute in the majors. Teams seeking additional bullpen depth, particularly from the left side, may view him as a relatively low-risk option capable of filling an immediate need. In a league where pitching depth is constantly tested over the course of a long season, opportunities for players like Lucchesi often arise quickly.
Whether he secures a guaranteed roster spot or begins his next chapter on another minor-league agreement, the likelihood remains that he will receive further chances to prove his value. The demand for reliable left-handed pitching ensures that arms with his experience and skill set rarely remain without options for long.
READ MORE
