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Astros: 3 high-end free agent starters to target
Kevin Gausman proved himself in 2021, while he hits free agency at 30-years-old.
The San Francisco Giants’ 107-win season was backed behind their hurler Kevin Gausman, who made his first All-Star Game in 2021. The right-hander posted a career-best 2.81 ERA in a league-leading games started (33).
Gausman made $18.9 million for the ’21 season, while estimated to make $22,474,866 of annual value this offseason by Spotrac. This number is understandable, as the right-hander posted a career-high in strikeouts with 227. His highest before this season was 179 in 2017.
dark. Next. Should the Astros make a trade for Chris Bassitt?
The Astros haven’t been linked to any free agent pitchers this offseason yet, but with all three of these pitchers expecting to explore the field, it is worth looking at who is available and their expected cost.
If Verlander does accept the qualifying offer, it is unlikely the Astros drop an extra $18 million or more of AAV on a starter. There are other parts of the team to address, such as shortstop if Carlos Correa doesn’t re-sign.