By now, we all know the Braves completed their sole mission in life by acquiring a controlled MLB SP. They were dead set on getting one for quite some time, and they finally got one in Kevin Gausman.
So who is this guy other than "not as good as Chris Archer"?
In short: 27 year old SP controlled via Arb for 2 more seasons after this year who should be projected for 2-3 wins per season for the duration of his cost controlled years at a total salary of around ~$20M (~$8M in 2019, ~$12M in 2020).
His stuff is declining, as is typical for pitchers in their mid-20s:
His current repertoire is Four-Seamer (FA), Slider (SL), and Splitter (FS), and his stuff grades out as follows...
FA: 93.9 mph (Grade 52.8), 6.7" HMov (Grade 58.8), 7.8" HMov (Grade 39.1)
This is a flat FA with plus arm side run. This is a solid average or slightly better FA. I'll say 50/55.
SL: 81.7 mph (Grade 37.6), 1.0" HMov (Grade 42.3), -0.7" HMov (Grade 60.8)
This is a slow SL with more downward action than glove side run. I would call this a Slurve, and it's an above average pitch. Let's call it a 55.
FS: 10.7 mph delta (Grade 64.4), 8.3" HMov (Grade 54.3), 1.0" VMov (Grade 65.8)
Splitters are hard to grade because there aren't many in MLB, but they act like a CH. It has plus velocity delta from his FA, above average arm side run, and plus or plus-plus sink. This is easily his best pitch, and I would hang an easy 65 on it. This pitch is likely why Gausman has allowed a lower wOBA vs LHH (.315) than vs RHH (.342) in his career.
Command: 2.71 career BB/9 (Grade 55), has flashed as high as Grade 65 in previous seasons. This is plus command.
Overall, we are looking at a 50/55 FA, 55 SL/CU, and a 65 FS with plus command. This is exactly what a role 50/60 SP looks like.
So who is this guy other than "not as good as Chris Archer"?
In short: 27 year old SP controlled via Arb for 2 more seasons after this year who should be projected for 2-3 wins per season for the duration of his cost controlled years at a total salary of around ~$20M (~$8M in 2019, ~$12M in 2020).
His stuff is declining, as is typical for pitchers in their mid-20s:
His current repertoire is Four-Seamer (FA), Slider (SL), and Splitter (FS), and his stuff grades out as follows...
FA: 93.9 mph (Grade 52.8), 6.7" HMov (Grade 58.8), 7.8" HMov (Grade 39.1)
This is a flat FA with plus arm side run. This is a solid average or slightly better FA. I'll say 50/55.
SL: 81.7 mph (Grade 37.6), 1.0" HMov (Grade 42.3), -0.7" HMov (Grade 60.8)
This is a slow SL with more downward action than glove side run. I would call this a Slurve, and it's an above average pitch. Let's call it a 55.
FS: 10.7 mph delta (Grade 64.4), 8.3" HMov (Grade 54.3), 1.0" VMov (Grade 65.8)
Splitters are hard to grade because there aren't many in MLB, but they act like a CH. It has plus velocity delta from his FA, above average arm side run, and plus or plus-plus sink. This is easily his best pitch, and I would hang an easy 65 on it. This pitch is likely why Gausman has allowed a lower wOBA vs LHH (.315) than vs RHH (.342) in his career.
Command: 2.71 career BB/9 (Grade 55), has flashed as high as Grade 65 in previous seasons. This is plus command.
Overall, we are looking at a 50/55 FA, 55 SL/CU, and a 65 FS with plus command. This is exactly what a role 50/60 SP looks like.
Last edited:
