Gausman says yes to Giants’ qualifying offer
Pitcher Kevin Gausman often had said he wanted to return to the Giants in 2021. When he made it happen Wednesday by accepting the club’s $ 18.9 million qualifying offer, he was overjoyed.
“Geaux Giants,” the LSU alum wrote, followed by three Golden Gate Bridge emojis.
The Chronicle confirmed that Gausman took the oneyear offer after he earned a prorated portion of his $ 9 million contract in 2019.
His acceptance of the qualifying offer does not preclude the two sides from working out a multiyear deal. The Giants and Gausman have discussed one, but apparently could not shake hands before the 2 p. m. PDT deadline.
Gausman’s return was no sure thing. He could
have rejected the offer and signed elsewhere, with the Giants getting a compensatory draft pick. As one of the premier freeagent starters, he reportedly had multiple teams in pursuit.
This seemed like a mustget for the Giants, whose rotation lacks experience. They have several promising prospects, most notably Sean Hjelle, Seth Corry and Tristan Beck, but only Hjelle seems to have a real chance to make the team out of camp in 2021.
Gausman returns to a rotation that includes Johnny Cueto in the final year of his contract, Tyler Anderson ( assuming the Giants tender the arbitrationeligible lefty a contract) and Logan Webb.
Jeff Samardzija’s Giants tenure ended with his free agency. Lefthander Drew Smyly became a free agent as well, but the Giants want to resign him.
Gausman, who turns 30 on Jan. 6, had a 3.62 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 592⁄ innings over 12
3 games in 2020, 10 of them starts.
Most free agents decline qualifying offers because they think they can get multiyear deals elsewhere. Gausman and the Mets’ Marcus Stroman were the only players among the six who received offers to accept. The Reds’ Trevor Bauer, Astros’ George Springer, Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu and Phillies’ J. T. Realmuto said no.
This is no ordinary offseason, however.
Bigleague teams say they lost billions of dollars in television and ticket revenues because of the coronavirus shutdown that preceded the 60game season. Even when the games began, fans were not allowed in to ballparks.
The result is expected to be a depressed freeagent market for players, so an $ 18.9 million payday for one season might seem more attractive than in normal winters.
Gausman did not hide his desire to return to the Giants.
Kevin Gausman returns to a rotation that includes Johnny Cueto, Tyler Anderson ( assuming the Giants tender the arbitrationeligible lefty a contract) and Logan Webb.
Even before the Aug. 31 trade deadline, when he was rumored to be on the block, he said he feared going to a team that did not take the level of precautions that the Giants did with virus protocols.
Gausman was just as forceful three days before the season ended.
“I think I’ve made it pretty open that I feel good here and I really like this club,” he 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.”
Gausman meant catcher Buster Posey, who opted out of the 2020 season.
“He’s a big reason I decided to sign here,” he said. “Knowing he’s going to be here next year definitely adds another element to it.”