» GIANTS HEAD INTO THE OFFSEASON
With catcher Buster Posey expected to return to the Giants in 2021, San Francisco should once again be a desirable landing spot for free agent starting pitchers.
Kevin Gausman, the Giants’ top starter this year, said throwing to Posey is among the top reasons he would consider signing another deal with the organization.
“A guy that’s not here is Buster,” Gausman said after his final start of the season on Thursday. “Hopefully he’s going to be back here next year. He was a big reason why I decided to sign here. So coming back knowing that he’s going to be here next year definitely adds another element to it.”
Gausman signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Giants last winter following a disappointing season in which he was designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves. The veteran right-hander hoped to reestablish his value and prove himself as a starting pitcher after he ended 2019 as a member of the Cincinnati Reds bullpen and it’s clear Gausman accomplished his goals.
In a condensed 60-game season in which he made just 10 starts, Gausman posted a 3.62 ERA and struck out 11.9 batters per nine innings, the highest mark of his career. With a high-90s fastball and a devastating splitter, Gausman will be an appealing option to any contender looking to fortify its rotation, but a Giants team that’s suddenly light on starting pitching could make a reunion with the righty a top priority.
After lobbying to remain with the team ahead of the 2020 trade deadline, Gausman made another strong declaration of his interest in staying with the organization following his last start.
“I would love to come back. I think I’ve been pretty open that I feel good here,” Gausman said. “I really like this club, I really like the team. More than anything I really like the guys.”
The other veteran starting pitcher the Giants signed last offseason,
Drew Smyly, was limited to five starts due to a left index finger injury, but the left-hander showed so much potential that he could also be a sought-after free agent. Smyly has a long injury history, but he’s coming off a season in which he struck out a career-high 14.4 batters per nine innings and showcased the flexibility to move between the rotation and the bullpen.
Smyly’s immediate future is likely as a starter, but his fastball-curveball combination plays up out of the bullpen in a way that could have teams targeting him for the same role the San Diego Padres envisioned when they signed former Giants lefty Drew Pomeranz last offseason.
Like Gausman, Smyly noticed improvements working with the Giants’ first-year coaching staff and expressed a desire to continuing pitching in San Francisco.
“I honestly, truly loved it here,” Smyly said Sunday. “I think it’s a great place to pitch, it’s a great city to be in. The weather, the teammates, the guys, the culture.”