Can any Giant free agent starters help the KC Royals?

Two starting pitchers top the Giant free agents who could help the KC Royals.

Kansas City needs rotation help; the sooner it arrives the better, and a pair of good Giant free agent starters are available.

The first, of course, is Alex Wood, but only if he decides to leave despite those recent reports suggesting he’ll stay. Wood returned to form this season after injuries limited him to seven starts with Cincinnati two years ago and nine games with the Dodgers in 2020. He went 10-4 in 26 2021 starts, kept his ERA under 4.00 (3.83), and averaged almost 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

Wood’s best season was 2017 with the Dodgers. He won 16 games, lost only three, and posted the lowest ERA (2.72) of his career. He’s 63-48 over nine seasons.

Kevin Gausman is also a nine-year major league veteran. He led the Giants with 14 wins this season (he lost six) and his 2.81 ERA was a career best. Gausman made the All-Star team for the first time in 2021 and has a 64-72 career record. His mid-90’s four-seamer complements a splitter, slider and changeup.

Neither pitcher is burdened by a qualifying offer—Wood didn’t get one and Gausman wasn’t eligible because he accepted one from the Giants last year. Both will be expensive, though, which means Kansas City probably won’t go after or sign either of them.