The SF Giants are experiencing another loss in their pitching department this offseason, as pitching coordinator Justin Lehr is set to join the Toronto Blue Jays organization to oversee minor league pitching, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

Lehr’s official title has yet to be confirmed. This trend of the Giants losing pitching staff is notable, beginning with Ethan Katz’s move to the Chicago White Sox as pitching coach a few seasons ago. Following that, Brian Bannister and Andrew Bailey also departed for the White Sox and Boston Red Sox, respectively, while Matt Daniels, the team’s coordinator of pitching sciences, left the organization in 2023.

This represents a significant loss of pitching expertise, highlighting the need for the new pitching coach, J.P. Martinez, to possibly enhance that area.

Lehr, who was an eighth-round pick by the Oakland A’s in the 1999 draft and played in parts of four MLB seasons, has a career 5.34 ERA over 77 appearances, with his best season in 2005 featuring a 3.89 ERA for the Brewers. After his playing career, he scouted for the Royals and Astros before joining the Giants as a rehab pitching coordinator, later expanding his role to include overall pitching coordination in player development. He now returns to a familiar role with the Blue Jays.