SAN FRANCISCO -- It’s rare that relievers make such an impact that they become household names regionally and earn a group nickname, but the so-called Core Four got to that point while helping the Giants win three titles in five years.
Those parades wouldn’t have been possible without Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo, but as the Giants aim for another even-year title and success further down the road, changes are coming. Affeldt announced his retirement during the final week of the regular season and the other three are aging and not signed past 2016.