SF Giants: Which Players are Free Agents this Offseason

Right-Handed Pitcher Trevor Cahill

Can we call Trevor Cahill a journeyman pitcher? It sure feels that way. He has spent a good chunk of his career with either the Oakland A’s or the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he has pitched for a handful of other teams as well throughout his 12-year career.

In his career, the right-handed pitcher has proven to be a quality arm, who can throw out of both the rotation and the bullpen. There is value in that.

Before the 2020 season, the 32-year-old had accumulated an 84-92 overall record with a 4.20 ERA (4.40 FIP, 98 ERA+). He is basically the league-average pitcher, and that is good enough to continue getting roster spots.

After a down year in 2019 where he generated a 5.98 ERA across 102.1 innings, Cahill was not in the market for a guaranteed contract. The SF Giants needed pitching depth, and Cahill filled that need, so they brought him in on a minor league deal.

This proved to be an opportunistic move. Across 25 innings, Cahill pitched to a 3.24 ERA (4.19 FIP) with an 11.2 K/9 against a 5.0 BB/9. Interestingly, his 29.2 percent strikeout rate was the highest of his career.

Similar to what we have seen with both Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly, Cahill’s improved strikeout efficiency could be due in part to a change in pitch usage. He flashed his curveball 23 percent of the time, which is a pitch opposing hitters did not register a hit against.

After a solid year in a shortened season, Cahill will be a free agent yet again. I do not think his market will be as robust as either Gausman or Smyly, but he will have some interested teams. I would expect one of those teams to be the Giants.