Dodgers Rumors: Giants eyeing former flamethrowing LAD reliever in free agency

The Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen got the big boost it needed when Edwin Diaz agreed to spurn the New York Mets for the reigning back-to-back champions, though that doesn't mean the team's work is done.

Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, and Michael Kopech are all currently free agents, and with Roki Sasaki reportedly moving back to the rotation, the relief corps still looks a little thin. That's particularly true if one doesn't trust Tanner Scott to reclaim his former glory after a difficult debut campaign with the Dodgers.

While a reunion with any of those aforementioned free-agent arms shouldn't be completely ruled off the table, none of those three relievers will be priority re-signings for the Dodgers. If the team does link back up with one of them, it appears that Phillips is the favorite. That more than likely means both of Yates and Kopech could be pitching elsewhere in 2026.

And, wouldn't you know it, Kopech finds himself in the sights of the Dodgers' oldest rival, the San Francisco Giants.

Giants will learn the unfortunate Michael Kopech truth Dodgers already know if they sign veteran reliever

Kopech has always been a highlight-reel reliever, with a show-stopping fastball that routinely hits triple digits on the radar gun.

Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, Kopech emerged as a top prospect with the Chicago White Sox. He never quite found his groove as a starting pitcher, but since converting to the bullpen on a full-time basis since the start of the 2024 season, he's recorded a 3.32 ERA, 4.09 FIP, 30.1% strikeout rate, and 15 saves in 78 2/3 innings.

That's a lot of talent the Dodgers are letting walk out the door, but there's good cause for it: Kopech simply cannot stay healthy.

He missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery (and then 2020 after opting out due to Covid-related concerns), and he made three separate trips to the injured list this year, including two distinct placements on the 60-day IL. A shoulder impingement and meniscus surgery held him out for most of the 2025 season, and he missed the Dodgers' postseason run due to knee discomfort.

He's never thrown more than 130 innings in a single season as a starter, and he's only had one healthy season as a reliever. That's just a ton of injury risk to take on in a major-league contract, even when accounting for Kopech's upside.

At just 29 years old, there's still time for the talented right-hander to put it all together. But as he gets older, his injury issues will only become more exacerbated. If the Giants sign Kopech, they're likely to find the same disappointment the Dodgers and White Sox have.