SF Giants Gameday: Kevin Gausman wants to stay, will the Giants keep him?

The San Francisco Giants didn't give Kevin Gausman any help on Thursday, but that doesn't mean he's begging to get out of town. After tossing 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball in a 2-0 loss to the Dodgers, Gausman was asked about the realistic possibility he could be on the move ahead of Monday's trade deadline. "Obviously, I don't want to leave these guys," Gausman said. "It's been really great. They've made coming to the ballpark really fun." The Giants signed Gausman to a one-year deal over the offseason with the hopes he could could become an anchor in the team's starting rotation. He's pitched well in San Francisco and consistently generated swings and misses with a mid-to-high 90s fastball and splitter combination, but the Giants' front office might consider trading the free agent if an intriguing offer comes their way. Gausman has the potential to help postseason contenders in the rotation or the bullpen and while the Giants still see a realistic path to a playoff berth, they're also building toward the future and could acquire a young, controllable player or two if they part with the veteran right-hander. Gausman was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Atlanta Braves at the 2018 deadline and posted some of the best numbers of his career during the second half of the season despite initially feeling frustrated about the move. The hard-throwing starter says he's better prepared if a trade does happen this season, but indicated Thursday his preference is to stay put in San Francisco. "I definitely feel more comfortable this time around," Gausman said. "Whatever happens, it's just part of the business. It has no bearing on where I end up next year. I could get traded and definitely see me re-signing here. I really like this team. I really like all these guys."