Cardinals analyst gives verdict on Justin Verlander's $15,000,000 Giants move

Veteran hurler Justin Verlander provides an established arm for the San Francisco Giants, according to Cardinals analyst Katie Woo.

During the Jan. 10 edition of the "JM Baseball Podcast," Woo discussed the Giants' signing of Verlander with host Chris Rose.

Woo explained how the Giants needed an established arm behind ace Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Moreover, the departure of Blake Snell via free agency left a hole that the Giants needed to fill with someone who could help anchor the rotation with a veteran presence.

Woo stated:

“What Justin Verlander brings is the veteran experience, and that’s super valuable for a relatively young rotation.”

The 42-year-old Verlander brings a wealth of experience, Cy Young Awards and plenty of postseason exposure. If healthy, Verlander can be the type of pitcher to support the top arms in San Francisco.

Woo added:

“He’s one of those players who commands respect when he walks in a room. And, I think he’ll be very good for that next core of Giants’ pitchers.”

“Once I got over the initial shock, I did start to think, it probably does make sense just based on the age and the overall experience of that Giants’ rotation.”

Check out Woo’s comments here, starting at 4:09:

If healthy, Verlander could provide solid innings as the Giants' younger pitchers become more experienced. It remains to be seen just how effective Verlander can be at this point in his career.

Nevertheless, the one-year, $15 million deal seems like a low-risk proposition for both Justin Verlander and the Giants.

Looking at the Giants’ rotation with Justin Verlander in the fold

The Giants boast two solid top-of-the-rotation arms in Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Webb pitched over 200 innings last season, leading the club with a 3.41 ERA. The 28-year-old is the undisputed leader of the Giants’ rotation and will be looking to have another strong season.

Behind Webb, left-hander Ray looks to have a good season after coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2024. If healthy, the former Cy Young winner could become a solid second starter for the Giants in 2025.

Meanwhile, Justin Verlander projects as the No. 3 arm for the Giants. While he managed just 55 innings with the Astros in 2024, a healthy Verlander could be good for 20+ starts, even at his age.

The back end of the Giants’ rotation consists of former reliever Jordan Hicks and lefty Kyle Harrison. Hicks’ transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation caught up to him. The Giants are still expected to keep Hicks as a starter this season, though a return to the bullpen could be in order.

As for Harrison, the 23-year-old southpaw will be looking to rebound after a seeming loss of velocity on his fastball. If he can regain his form, Harrison could anchor the back end of the Giants’ rotation this upcoming season.

As it stands, it seems like the Giants are done adding to their rotation. Nevertheless, the club could explore other arms if reasonable options become available via trade.