Gausman reiterates desire to stay in S.F.

One of the first calls Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi should make after the season, if he hasn’t already, is to Kevin Gausman’s agent.

Gausman was a great sign for one year at $9 million. The 29yearold could at least quadruple that in a longterm deal this winter. Whether or not prospects such as Sean Hjelle or Seth Corry arrive in 2021, Gausman would be a good pitcher to have as a starter shortterm and maybe a closer down the road.

In the nearest term, Gausman likely would pitch Game 1 of the playoffs if the Giants get there.

After holding Colorado to two runs over six innings in Thursday’s 54, 11inning loss to his hometown Rockies, Gausman said he would love to return. Every potential free agent says something like that, but toward the end of August, he spoke earnestly about not wanting to be traded and sounded genuine again Thursday discussing the possibility of making San Francisco his baseball home.

“I think I’ve made it pretty open that I feel good here and I really like this club,” Gausman said. “More than anything, I really like the guys. The staples we have in our lineup have experience they bring every single day, and a big part of that is a guy who’s not here.” Catcher Buster Posey. “Hopefully, he’ll be back here next year,” Gausman said. “He’s a big reason I decided to sign here. Knowing he’s going to be here next year definitely adds another element to it.”

Gausman likely made his final regularseason start, although manager Gabe Kapler will consider using him in some way against the Padres this weekend.

If Gausman does not pitch again, he will end the abbreviated season 33 with a 3.68 ERA. His 77 strikeouts gave him 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings and he has a 1.12 WHIP, both career bests.

Gausman is the Giants’ best power starter, as he showed on a day he admitted was “a grind from the getgo.” He struck out Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon to strand two runners in the third, then did the same with Kevin Pillar in the fourth. Two innings later, with a runner on second, Gausman struck out Sam Hilliard and Tony Wolters.

Rogers vs. Pillar: Kapler showed remarkable faith in rookie reliever Tyler Rogers by having him start the ninth inning of a 44 game by facing Pillar. They had met three times, resulting in a goahead triple, double and single. A homer would have given Pillar a Rogers cycle. Instead, Rogers struck him out on the way to 11⁄3 shutout innings.