Gausman, on a 1-year contract, says he’d prefer to stay a Giant
With Monday’s trade deadline looming and the Giants in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, every veteran player understands there’s at least a small chance he could be on the move in the coming days.
That doesn’t mean the opportunity to potentially play for a front-runner is a top priority.
Giants starter Kevin Gausman was asked about the realistic possibility he could be traded ahead of the Monday deadline after tossing 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a 2-0 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday.
“Obviously, I don’t want to leave these guys,” Gausman said. “It’s been really great. They’ve made coming to the ballpark really fun.”
The Giants signed Gausman to a one-year deal over the offseason with the hopes he could become an anchor in the team’s starting rotation. He’s pitched well in San Francisco and consistently generated swings and misses with a mid-tohigh 90s fastball and splitter combination, but the Giants front office might consider trading the free agent-to-be if an intriguing offer comes its way.
Gausman has the potential to help postseason contenders in the rotation or the bullpen. And while the Giants still see a realistic path to a playoff berth, they’re also building toward the future and could acquire a young, controllable player or two if they part with the veteran righthander. Gausman was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Atlanta Braves at the 2018 deadline and posted some of the best numbers of his career during the second half of the season, despite initially feeling frustrated about the move. The hardthrowing starter says he’s better prepared if a trade happens this season, but indicated Thursday his preference is to stay with San Francisco.
“I definitely feel more comfortable this time around,” Gausman said. “Whatever happens, it’s just part of the business. It has no bearing on where I end up next year. I could get traded and definitely see me re-signing here. I really like this team. I really like all these guys.”
The Giants may believe they can part with a member of their rotation such as Gausman, Johnny Cueto or fifth starter Trevor Cahill and still compete for a playoff berth with injured starters Drew Smyly (left index finger strain) and Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder inflammation) both progressing well and throwing bullpens.
GIANTS CELEBRATE JACKIE ROBINSON DAY >> San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler joined a growing number of people in the baseball community to donate salary earned on Jackie Robinson Day to The Players Alliance.
Kapler said Friday he’ll donate salary from the Giants’ matchup with the Diamondbacks on Friday to The Players Alliance, which “is focused on building equitable systems in order to change the trajectory of diversity throughout baseball.”
“I think The Players Alliance is doing an outstanding job of not just speaking up, but making a difference in the community in fighting systemic racism and promoting racial equality,” Kapler said. “I know a lot of the members of The Players Alliance and trust that the work they’re doing is going to make a difference and I just want to be a supportive part in that.
Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated each year on April 15 to commemorate the date Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. With play suspended from March 11-July 22 this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, MLB moved Jackie Robinson Day to Aug. 28, which is the date Branch Rickey met with Robinson in 1945 to discuss his future in baseball.
The Players Alliance, which was formed in 2020 by a group of Black Major League Baseball players, has a vision to “seek equal opportunity in our game for the Black community at every level, from the field to the front office, to combat racial prejudice and ensure a future for our sport that provides a level playing field for all.”
On Friday, every player, coach and manager across the majors wore Robinson’s No. 42, which was retired throughout baseball on April 15, 1997, except for the small group of players who were already wearing No. 42 as a tribute to Robinson at the time.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford played collegiately at UCLA, where Robinson won varsity letters in four sports and the Bruins’ home park is called Jackie Robinson Stadium, and said the chance to wear Robinson’s jersey number is particularly special this year.
“He was the face and symbol of breaking down barriers and equality for so many years, and I think what we see in the world today, his battle is still kind of going on now,” Crawford said.