Free Agent Signing: San Francisco Giants Bolster Pitching Staff With Return of Key Arm

 

The San Francisco Giants entered the offseason with four holes in their starting staff, due to Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto all entering free agency. 

Monday, they started to plug the leaks, first by re-signing one of their top starters, DeSclafani, to a 3-year, $36M contract. 

Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a three-year, $36 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. DeSclafani, 31, returns to the place he thrived last season, and the Giants' rotation rebuild is off to a good start.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 22, 2021

The 31-year-old had a career year in San Francisco, after signing a one-year, "show me", $6M deal for 2021. He posted a 13-7 record, to go with a 3.17 ERA and a 4.1 WAR (Baseball-Reference). 

After the Giants did not tender the $18.4M qualifying offer to DeSclafani, many wondered if he would return to The Bay Area. But negotiations on a longer-term deal were already in the works. 

Following that on Monday, came word that the Giants are also "close" to returning lefty Alex Wood to the fold. The 30-year-old Wood also had a solid year in San Fran, going 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA. 

That still leaves, however, the best of the bunch, Gausman, out on the market. The Giants have their hands full competing with a number of other teams for his services. 

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports