Tyler

Mahle

Mahle was slowed by an illness last week, so he’s a bit behind the rest of the Giants’ starters right now. Fortunately, he has plenty of time with which to catch up. His 92.7-mph average on his fastball today was up 0.7 mph from last year, though well shy of the 94.0 mph he averaged in his best season with the Reds in 2021.

It puts Mahle a little behind, but there’s plenty of time to catch up. The Giants gave the right-hander a one-year, $10 million contract at the beginning of January with the expectation being that he’ll pitch in the middle of the San Francisco rotation in 2026.

The move was announced on December 31st and is official now. Mahle lacks the fastball velocity and the sharpness of his breaking balls than he did in previous seasons prior to injuries, but he did post a 2.18 ERA in his 16 starts with the Rangers last season. His injury history makes it hard to rely on him to stay healthy for a full season, but he should be solid for the Giants when he’s on the mound.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand says it’s a done deal, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman says Mahle will be guaranteed $10 million. Probably not what Giants fans were hoping for in the rotation after a similar addition in Adrian Houser, but maybe there’s still more to come. Mahle did put up a 2.18 ERA in his 16 starts for the Rangers last season, but his peripherals were unimpressive, and he again dealt with shoulder problems. Having undergone Tommy John in 2023, he’s made a total of 24 starts the last three years, and his velocity last season was down two mph from his one completely healthy and productive season with the Reds in 2021.

Mahle missed all summer with his shoulder injury, but he managed to go 6-4 with a 2.18 ERA in his 16 starts this season. His velocity and strikeout rate are down since Tommy John, and he’s qualified for the ERA title just once as a major leaguer, so he’ll be a risky signing this winter. Still, someone might give him a substantial two-year in free agency. After all, Frankie Montas got $34 million last winter.

Mahle gave up four hits, walked one and struck out six. He was pulled after just 68 pitches. The 30-year-old right-hander was mostly excellent in his first start since being placed on the injured list in June with a shoulder injury. Mahle has a 2.20 ERA and 62/28 K/BB ratio in 81 2/3 innings this year. He’s lined up to face the Twins at home in the last week of the regular season.

The 30-year-old right-hander will make his triumphant return to the Rangers’ rotation on Friday evening against the Marlins. Mahle has been shelved since mid-June due to soreness in his pitching shoulder. He had been dealing before that — posting a 2.34 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 56/27 K/BB ratio over 77 innings of work. Carl Edwards Jr. was designated for assignment in a corresponding move on Friday.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters earlier this week that Mahle was lobbying to return this weekend against the Mets, but it sounds like the organization is pumping the brakes on that idea. The 30-year-old veteran will get at least one additional rehab outing under his belt before he’s an option for the Rangers’ injury-depleted rotation mix at some point in the final two weeks.

Mahle threw 2 1/3 scoreless frames over the weekend in his second rehab outing and is on track to return to Texas’ injury-plagued rotation mix later this week. The 30-year-old righty has been on the shelf since mid-June recovering from shoulder soreness. There’s some appeal here for fantasy managers, especially in deeper mixed leagues, considering his track record.

Mahle has been shut down since mid-June due to soreness in his right shoulder. He’s not eligible to return from the injured list until mid-August, so the Rangers will take a cautious approach as they build him back up.