SAN FRANCISCO. The Giants announced this Friday the return of two emblematic figures to their organization: Javier López and Curt Casali. Both will join the baseball operations team as advisors, strengthening the group led by the president of baseball operations, Buster Posey.
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New Key Positions
In addition to the new hires, the promotion of Paul Bien was announced, who previously served as vice president of baseball analytics and will now assume the role of assistant general manager.Two Former Players Return
Curt Casali, who played as a catcher in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons, including two stints with the Giants (2021-2022, 2024), returns to the organization. In 2021, he was Posey’s backup during the historic 107-win season. Javier López, a beloved figure in San Francisco, is also returning. The left-handed reliever was part of the famous “Core Four” of the bullpen that contributed to the World Series championships of 2010, 2012, and 2014. A member of the organization’s Wall of Fame since 2024, López has worked as a television analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area since his retirement in 2016.A Reinforced Group of Advisors
With the arrival of López and Casali, the Giants strengthen their team of advisors, who report directly to Buster Posey. This group includes important names in the recent history of the franchise: Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker, former champion managers.Edwin Díaz: The Dominant Closer
Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz continues to stand out as the best reliever available in free agency heading into 2026. Despite using only two pitches, fastball and slider, both have become very effective weapons. After recovering from an injury in 2023, Díaz has managed to balance his repertoire, achieving a run value of +12 with both his fastball and slider since 2024, according to Statcast. This balance positions him among the six MLB relievers whose two main pitches have a positive impact on preventing runs. The right-handed closer has recorded an ERA of 2.48, with 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings, minimizing damage against both pitches.Comparative Analysis (Statcast)
2020-2022
- Slider: average against .132, SLG .155, 53% swinging strikes.
- Fastball: average .241, SLG .388.
2024-2025
- Slider: .182 / .304, 42% missed swings.
- Fastball: .160 / .249.
