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SAN FRANCISCO. The Giants announced this Friday the return of two old acquaintances of the organization: Javier López and Curt Casali, who will join the baseball operations team as advisors, reinforcing the working group led by the president of baseball operations, Buster Posey.

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The move also included the promotion of "Paul Bien", who for the last four seasons served as vice president of baseball analytics and will now hold the position of "assistant general manager".

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Two Former Players Return Home

Curt Casali, 37 years old, was a catcher in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons, including two stints with the Giants (2021-2022, 2024). In 2021 he was Posey's backup during the historic 107-win season and played 41 games in 2022 before being traded to the Mariners.

Javier López, 48, is an emblematic figure in San Francisco. The left-handed reliever was part of the celebrated “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 job he hopes to continue while taking on his new role in the front office.

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A circle of increasingly solid advisors

With the additions of López and Casali, the Giants further strengthen the team of advisors who report directly to Posey. That group includes well-known names linked to the recent history of the franchise:

• Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker, former champion managers.
• Bobby Evans, former general manager.
• John Barr, veteran scout.
• Ron Wotus, former bench coach.
• Jeff Berry, Posey's former agent.

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Analysis: Edwin Díaz remains the most dominant closer in the market

In parallel, Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz continues to draw attention as the best reliever available in free agency heading into 2026. Although he only uses two pitches — fastball and slider — both have become equally lethal weapons. After recovering from a torn hamstring that sidelined him in 2023, Díaz has managed to balance his repertoire, achieving a +12 run value with both his fastball and slider since 2024, according to Statcast. That balance places him among the six MLB relievers whose two main pitches generate equal positive impact in 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:

Key Comparison (Statcast)

2020-2022

• Slider: average against .132, SLG .155, 53% missed swings.
• Fastball: average .241, SLG .388.

2024-2025

• Slider: .182 / .304, 42% missed swings.
• Fastball: .160 / .249.

Although his fastball has slightly lost velocity —from 98.6 mph to 97.3 mph— Díaz has compensated by adjusting his location, elevating it 60% of the time to maximize its effectiveness.

That combination of adjustments, command, and consistency once again profiles him as one of the most sought-after relievers of the winter.