As MLB Free Agency begins to heat up, one of the most sought-after players on the market has been star pitcher Kevin Gausman. The free-agent right-hander had a phenomenal season with the San Francisco Giants in 2021, and if all goes to plan he'll be back in the Bay Area in 2022.
Per MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Giants have a “good chance” of re-signing Gausman this offseason, and a deal is expected to come soon.
The #SFGiants have a good chance to retain Kevin Gausman, based on the current tenor of negotiations, sources say. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 28, 2021
Gausman is expected to put pen to paper on his new contract before Dec. 1, when the league faces a potential work stoppage due to the impending MLB lockout. Many players, Gausman included, are looking to have a deal in place before the uncertainty of a lockout impacts the free agency market.
The increased pace of Gausman's market, which has taken shape quite quickly over the past few days, may end up playing in San Francisco's favor. The Giants are keen on re-signing their ace, who helped propel them to a surprise NL West victory last season.
In 2021, Gausman went 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA across 33 starts. He threw 192 innings on the mound, striking out 227 batters and walking 50. His superb season earned him his first All-Star honors, and the 31-year-old is now set to cash in with a lucrative deal. Gausman has played nine seasons in the big leagues, featuring for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the Giants.
San Francisco appears to be the frontrunner for Gausman's signature, but the Giants will have to fend off interest from various teams including the Toronto Blue Jays and the spending-happy New York Mets in order to secure a deal.
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