SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — At the winter meetings last month, San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian sat across from Bruce Bochy and heard the former manager's endorsement of Tyler Mahle.
That meant everything — and then the pursuit was on in earnest.
The free agent right-hander finalized a $10 million, one-year contract with the Giants, who have been building their pitching staff this offseason and now have a deep rotation intact. The deal includes the potential for another $2.5 million in incentives.
Mahle pitched for Bochy on the Texas Rangers last season.
“It wasn't necessarily the first time we had heard Boch's opinion but the first time we're sitting as a group — Buster (Posey), myself, (manager) Tony (Vitello), our baseball operations group,” Minasian said on a video call Monday, speaking from Korea. “It's one thing to see it in a text message or on a phone call, it's quite another to sit across from a Hall of Fame manager and hear them say, ‘I really believe in this guy.’ So it was certainly encouraging and obviously happy we were able to get this done.”
It's been a busy stretch of adding pitchers — and Minasian wasn't sure whether the Giants would still look to augment the staff.
San Francisco also signed right-hander Adrian Houser in December to a $22 million, two-year contract that includes a 2028 club option. Reliever Jason Foley agreed to a $2 million, one-year deal.
Mahle is set to join a rotation featuring All-Stars Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp and Houser.
The Giants hope to have more stability in that group after using 15 different starters last year — and Mahle is thrilled to be coming home to California as he is from Huntington Beach. Pitching on the West Coast was a priority for him with a wife and two young children.
“I've always liked the Giants, just kind of everything, down to the colors. I like the orange and black,” he said. “The stadium's obviously awesome and right now they have a good team, great catcher. There's a ton that goes into it. It's an obvious reason why it was one of my top picks. I can go on and on.”
The 31-year-old Mahle went 6-4 with several career bests last season for Texas, including ERA (2.18), opponents’ batting average (.218), OPS against (.593), and home runs per nine innings (0.52) with a minimum of 10 starts.
He missed more than two months, from June 12 to Sept. 18, with fatigue in his pitching shoulder. Mahle also was sidelined for most of 2023 and '24 after Tommy John surgery, so he hasn't made more than 20 starts since 2022.
“I think it would be foolish for us to not recognize that it's a risk. Obviously there's a history there,” Minasian said. “Now, we do a lot of due diligence, a lot of conversations with our medical group. We believe in them, we believe in where Tyler's at, so there is definitely confidence that we're going to get more innings than he's thrown.”
Mahle was selected by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2013 draft from Westminster High School and has pitched in nine major league seasons for Cincinnati, Minnesota and the Rangers.
Mahle said he is feeling the best physically he has in years and definitely thinks he "can carry that over to San Francisco.”
Bochy is certainly optimistic Mahle will build off the momentum from how he started last year.
“Love the competitor in Tyler, was having a terrific year before his injury setback,” Bochy said in a text message. “Didn't miss a beat when he got back on the mound.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
FILE - Texas Rangers starting pitcher Tyler Mahle throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Sept. 25, 2025, in Arlington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 7, 2026--
Today, Smoothie King, guided by its vision to make the world a better place by nourishing healthy habits, released its first Healthy Habits and Smoothie Trends Report, offering a snapshot of how Americans are approaching nutrition in the year ahead. The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by Talker Research, found that “getting healthy” has remained a consistent priority over the past decade, with respondents reporting it was part of their New Year’s resolutions an average of six out of the last 10 years. While the desire to build healthier habits spans generations, the ease of sticking to those goals varies; 61% of Gen Z respondents say they find it easy to maintain health goals, compared to just 39% of baby boomers. Against this backdrop, two trends rose to the top: a growing emphasis on high-protein diets and the continued impact of GLP-1 medications, alongside a rising appetite for delicious, innovative smoothie flavors.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107057028/en/
Protein continues to be a major priority yet remains a challenge for many. While 43% of people say they are actively trying to consume 100 grams of protein per day, only 8% report actually reaching that goal. Even among Gen Z, the generation that consumes the most protein on a typical day (54 grams) and tracks their health the closest (67%), there remains a significant gap between intention and intake.
With more than 50 years of experience making nutrition delicious, Smoothie King is translating these insights into meaningful action – helping guests turn healthy intentions into sustainable habits. To help simplify protein consumption, Smoothie King is introducing the 100g Protein Pack. Designed for today’s protein-focused lifestyle, the pack bundles a curated selection of delicious protein-packed menu items including a Protein Box, which is a grab-and-go option that pairs high-quality protein with wholesome ingredients — like hard-boiled eggs or Peanut Butter and Fruit, flavorful cheeses, fresh fruit, flax & sea salt crackers; a Peanut Butter Toast with all natural peanut butter topped with fruit on 8 grain toast; and the Gladiator ® Smoothie which is available in three flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry; creating a satisfying lineup that works across meals and moments. Simply put, Smoothie King has done the nutritional work, so you don’t have to.
To support guests navigating GLP-1 medications, Smoothie King has a line of delicious GLP-1 smoothies developed in partnership with a registered dietician at Ochsner Health. Each of these smoothies are high in protein and fiber and have 0 grams of added sugar. And on January 8, Smoothie King is offering a free 12 oz. The Activator ®Recovery GLP-1 Almond Berry smoothie to all Smoothie King Healthy Rewards Members. The offer comes as GLP-1 medications continue to deeply shape how people think about wellness, with 55% of people saying they would rather give up social media than stop using their GLP-1 medication. According to the report, 18% of respondents believe GLP-1 will define New Year’s resolutions in 2026, with 50% saying these medications are becoming the new “Dry January” of wellness trends.
In 2024, Smoothie King became the first QSR brand to offer a dedicated GLP-1 Support Menu, designed to help the millions of Americans taking prescription GLP-1 medications meet their weight loss or weight management goals. The menu remains available nationwide and empowers guests with delicious, nutritional choices that complement their unique needs. Among those taking GLP-1 medications, 60% say they started drinking more smoothies, while 90% report that smoothies are very effective in helping them feel nourished. When it comes to the demographic breakdowns, millennials are most likely to use GLP-1s (27%) and men have a higher use of GLP-1s (28%).
“Our first Healthy Habits and Smoothie Trends Report confirms why Smoothie King exists – to make the world a better place by nourishing healthy habits,” said Claudia Schaefer, CMO at Smoothie King. “We know guests don’t just want to ‘be healthy’; they want solutions that fit into real life. Whether it’s hitting protein goals, navigating GLP-1 medications, or simply choosing something that tastes great and feels good, our role is to remove friction and make choices easier, more approachable, and more enjoyable every day.”
Beyond nutrition goals, smoothies are also evolving in flavor and creativity. According to the report, 25% of respondents say ingredients like mushrooms, pickles, cottage cheese, and apple cider vinegar would be part of their perfect smoothie, signaling an openness to unexpected combinations. Smoothie drinkers are increasingly adventurous, with 67% admitting they’ve tried a surprising flavor they ended up loving. The data also reveals that people in Northeastern and Western parts of the country drink the most smoothies, reinforcing the category’s continued growth nationwide.
As Americans continue to prioritize health, convenience, and flavor, Smoothie King remains committed to meeting guests where they are, whether they’re chasing protein goals, navigating GLP-1 medications, or simply craving something delicious and nutritious. Through intentional menu innovation, delicious and nutritious offerings, and a deep understanding of evolving wellness habits, Smoothie King is helping guests blend better every day.
ABOUT SMOOTHIE KING FRANCHISES, INC.
Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the original U.S. smoothie franchise, is a privately held, Dallas-based company with more than 1,200 units nationwide. It was founded in 1973 with the mission to help others achieve better health in a delicious way through smoothies.
Today, it continues its mission to inspire a healthy and active lifestyle through its Clean Blends initiative, which focuses on great-tasting smoothies that are made with GMO-free fruits and organic vegetables and no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives. In April 2023, Smoothie King launched Smoothie Bowls, topped with whole fresh fruit and premium Purely Elizabeth™ granola, made with wholesome ingredients, non-GMO fruits, and packed with flavor and nutrients. In 2025, Smoothie King introduced the Power Eats Menu, marking the brand’s first nationwide addition of food items. Smoothie King also offers retail products that include sports beverages, energy bars, vitamins, supplements, and more.
Repeatedly recognized as a top franchise opportunity, Smoothie King was recently ranked #11 in Entrepreneur's 2024 Top Brands for Multi-Unit Owners, selected as one of the 16 Best Restaurant Franchising Deals for 2024 by QSR Magazine, and recognized in QSR Magazine's QSR 50 ranking as one of the Top 50 Fast-Food Chains by Sales. The brand was also featured in the top 100 of Restaurant Business's and Nation's Restaurant News' 2023 Top 500 lists and named the No. 1 most beloved limited-service brand among millennials in Technomic’s “2023 America’s Favorite Chains” study. Additionally, Smoothie King was ranked No. 15 in Entrepreneur magazine's highly competitive “Franchise 500” ranking of top franchise brands.
Smoothie King Introduces 100g Protein Pack and Free GLP-1 Offer Following Insights from First Healthy Habits and Smoothie Trends Report
