Should the SF Giants re-sign pitcher Kevin Gausman?

Arguably the best pitcher for the SF Giants in the shortened, 60-game season in 2020 was right-hander Kevin Gausman. With him set to become a free agent, should the Giants re-sign him this offseason?

Gausman was sharp in 2020 with a 3.62 ERA and 79 strikeouts in nearly 60 innings with the SF Giants. He also had a walk rate of only 2.4 BB/9, showing that he had really good stuff but also the control to back it up.

All year, Gausman was able to fool hitters with his high-velocity fastball and splitter/changeup combo that had hitters off balance time and time again:

There was some speculation that he would be traded before the trade deadline in 2020, but with the team having a chance at the playoffs they felt they would need Gausman down the stretch if they were going to make a run.

But now, with Gausman set to become a free agent, he is going to get a lot of attention from a lot of teams. When you put up impressive numbers as he did in 2020 and show off the kind of stuff he did on the mound, you are going to get paid a handsome sum.

The Giants were able to sign him last offseason to a one-year, $9 million deal. Odds are he will command a multi-year deal closer to $15 million this offseason as many teams will want a right-hander of his caliber who shined as a starter in 2020 but has also shown promise out of the bullpen in the past.

Given how close the Giants were to the playoffs in 2020, it would be a real blow if they were to lose Kevin Gausman. That is why they need to re-sign him this offseason and need to add other arms around him in the rotation so they have a more stable pitching corps in 2021.

Gausman has expressed interest in returning to the Giants and said the desire to pitch to Buster Posey is something that would entice him. With Buster possibly returning in 2021, perhaps that will push Gausman over the edge and get him to re-sign with the team.

In any event, with the rotation being so inconsistent for the Giants in 2020, bringing their most consistent starter back would go a long way towards building confidence in a Giants pitching staff that will need to improve going forward.