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Key SF Giants pitcher getting ready to sign?

By Jeff Young |
Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants - Game Two
Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v San Francisco Giants - Game Two / Harry How/GettyImages

The offseason hot stove is heating up fast and one key starting pitcher might come off of the board soon. According to Andy Martino of SportsNet New York, Kevin Gausman, who pitched with the SF Giants over the past two seasons, might be getting ready to sign within the next couple of days.

Key SF Giants pitcher getting ready to sign?

Martino adds that the New York Mets have been aggressively pursuing the right-handed hurler. The Mets have been one of the biggest spender in the last 24 hours, signing Eduardo Escobar (2 years, $20 million), Mark Canha (2 years, $26.5 million), and Starling Marte (4 years, $78 million) to lucrative contracts.

They still have a lot of work to do so now they are turning their attention to Gausman. Gausman experienced a significant career revival with the Giants as he has been one of the better arms in baseball since the start of 2020.

The 30-year-old posted a 3.62 ERA across 59.2 innings in 2020 and stayed with San Francisco after accepting a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer. Of course, the Giants could not make a qualifying offer to him this offseason given that they issued it last year.

He was even better in 2021, registering a 2.81 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 10.6K/9, and a 4.54 SO/W ratio in 192 innings. It bears mentioning that he struggled to the tune of a 4.42 ERA in the second half of the season. That said, the Giants would not have had the season they had without Gausman's impressive performance.

The veteran starter entered free agency as one of the top starting pitchers on the market and he is expected to score a huge contract. MLB Trade Rumors predicted that he would net a six-year, $138 million deal.

While the Mets appear to be heavily connected to Gausman, I would not count out the Giants either. They "would like to retain" the righty according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The Giants front office often works quietly and moves like re-signing Anthony DeScafani come together without prior rumors.

The lack of hot stove rumors connecting the Giants to Gausman is not necessarily an indication that they have cooled on him. This is how they operate.

It does sound like Gausman will be making his final decision soon. The Giants will be in the mix but the Mets are openly pursuing him as well. It will take a substantial offer to reel in Gausman but he has been at his best in a Giants uniform and that is a factor that cannot be discounted.