{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"Who stays, who goes?","video":"JWSdU2W3rVxL","thumbnail":{"uri":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/short_form_video/hero/9-30_Zaidi_2020_success.jpg","alt":"Why Giants' Farhan Zaidi felt 2020 was a success despite 'painful' end","title":"Why Giants' Farhan Zaidi felt 2020 was a success despite 'painful' end"},"credit":"Getty Images","published":1602101098,"caption":"

A year after they set an NL record for players used in a season, the Giants had significantly less movement, particularly on the pitching side. They used 23 pitchers in 60 games, which ranked 27th in the big leagues.

The first reason for that is obvious. Movement was limited because of the pandemic and there was no need to experiment in a 60-game sprint. The second reason, though, is positive. The Giants had a much deeper roster in 2020 than in Farhan Zaidi's first year, with more players settling into everyday or consistent roles.

While player movement was limited for the past two months, it's about to ramp up again. The Giants have four free agents, 11 arbitration-eligible players, and some 40-man roster spots that need to be cleared.

Here's a look at 10 players who might not be back in 2021:

"},{"title":"Kevin Gausman","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Gausman_K_Getty_1276905246.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602104862,"caption":"

Signed to a one-year deal in December, Gausman became the ace of the staff and would have been a Game 1 starter in the postseason had the Giants won one more game. Gausman had a 3.62 ERA and 3.09 FIP and struck out a career-high 11.9 batters per nine innings. With a fastball that sat in the upper 90s during starts and a wipeout splitter, none of what he did looked fluky.

Gausman has said he would like to be back and the Giants feel the same way, but he should be one of the most attractive starters on the open market.

The 29-year-old signed a $9 million deal last offseason. It'll cost a lot more to bring him back.

"},{"title":"Drew Smyly","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Smyly_D_Getty_1277476983.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602105071,"caption":"

Like Gausman, Smyly signed a one-year deal with the Giants to rebuild his value. He should be one of the more fascinating players in free agency.

On one hand, Smyly continued to deal with the injury bug that has derailed his career. He made just seven appearances for the Giants because a finger strain cost him a month. On the other hand, those seven appearances were really, really good.

Smyly had a 2.01 FIP and struck out 14.4 batters per nine innings. MLB leader Shane Bieber was at 14.2 K/9. He heads back out onto the market as a 31-year-old lefty who was throwing 95-96 mph late in the year with a good curveball. That'll get you paid.

The Giants were able to scoop Smyly up for $4 million late in the offseason. Even with the injury risk, it won't be nearly as easy to sign him this time around.

"},{"title":"Jeff Samardzija ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Samardzija_J_Getty_1276718991.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602105292,"caption":"

While Gausman and Smyly are coin flips, here's a player who is certainly gone. Samardzija was designated for assignment the last weekend of the season, bringing an ugly end to a five-year run in San Francisco that was marred by injuries and a lot of homers, but also included plenty of innings and a fair amount of value. Samardzija was worth 8.4 bWAR in his three full seasons on the mound for the Giants.

He has said he "100 percent" will pitch next season. While you can never rule anything out with Zaidi -- he brought Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval back this year -- the Giants surely want a bit more certainty in their rotation, and Samardzija isn't the kind of versatile pitcher they like these days.

"},{"title":"Tony Watson","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Watson_T_Getty_1228734898.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602105437,"caption":"

He picked a bad time to start giving up runs, and that final weekend led to a 2.50 ERA for the season. But in his first 19 appearances, Watson allowed just one earned run on nine hits and averaged nearly a strikeout an inning.

In theory, he's a great person to bring back. He was the clear leader of the bullpen and still has plenty left in the tank in the late innings. But the Giants are loaded with younger, cheaper left-handed relievers. Watson, who turns 36 early next season, would be a nice addition to a contender's bullpen, perhaps one closer to his Florida home.

"},{"title":"Trevor Cahill ","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Cahill_T_Getty_128445444.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602105568,"caption":"

The fourth free agent, Cahill was a solid addition. He made six starts and five relief appearances and had a 3.24 ERA. He missed the start of the year with a fingernail injury, but once he returned, he allowed opposing hitters to bat just .184.

Cahill was never able to give the staff much length and finished the year as a reliever, but he's a good swingman. The Giants were his eighth organization and he hasn't spent a second year with a team since 2016, so it's hard to bet too much money on a reunion.

"},{"title":"Tyler Anderson","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Anderson_T_Getty_1228837268.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602105794,"caption":"

Claimed from the Rockies last offseason, Anderson was another solid addition after recovering from knee surgery. He made 11 starts and two relief appearances, with a 4.37 overall ERA and 1.39 WHIP. The reason he's on this list is that he's headed for his third year of arbitration and made $1.775 million last time.

Players generally get decent bumps as they go through the arb years and -- even with their rotation needs -- it's hard to see the Giants committing to holding Anderson when his rotation spot is one they would like to upgrade. He seems like a non-tender candidate who might ultimately return later on a one-year deal.

"},{"title":"Daniel Robertson","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Robertson_D_Getty_1273570061.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602106120,"caption":"

Acquired from the Rays during the season, Robertson was a good addition to the bench, going 7-for-21 and showing an ability to play the infield as well as left field. His throw to second to nail a runner was one of the more impressive defensive plays of the year.

Robertson is 26 and the kind of player this front office likes to stockpile, but there are two things working against him. First, he's arbitration eligible and made $1.025 million in 2020. Second, the Giants need a left-handed bat for their outfield and a platoon partner for Evan Longoria, and rosters are getting cut back down to 26 players. They can't carry Robertson on the big league roster when it's full strength.

"},{"title":"Joey Rickard","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Rickard_J_Getty_1227687323.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602106293,"caption":"

Rickard in 2019 was similar to Robertson this year: He had a nice summer but didn't fill a need on the big league roster, so the Giants non-tendered him. Ultimately, Rickard returned on a minor league deal and worked his way back to the big leagues with a strong performance at the alternate site. He appeared in just four games before going on the IL with left elbow inflammation.

The Giants have not given an update in about six weeks. Rickard is again arbitration-eligible, and even if he's healthy, he'll still get non-tendered again.

"},{"title":"One of the catchers","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Tromp_C_Getty_1273790764.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602106437,"caption":"

When Buster Posey opted out, the Giants didn't have a healthy catcher on their 40-man roster. But Posey will be back, Aramis Garcia will come off the IL before the offseason starts, Joey Bart was called up, and Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp both ended up seeing plenty of time.

The Giants are absolutely not going through the offseason with five catchers on their 40-man roster. Frankly, it would be surprising if they even stuck with more than three. They like Heineman and Tromp, but with Posey and Garcia back, both are DFA candidates as the Giants add elsewhere.

"},{"title":"Chris Shaw","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Shaw_C_Getty_1165813225.jpg","credit":"Getty Images","published":1602106585,"caption":"

The Giants will have to add Posey back to the 40-man and bring Garcia, Reyes Moronta and Tyler Beede off the IL during the offseason. They have their four free agents and will non-tender some guys, but they also need to add players before the Rule 5 draft and then dive into free agency.

Some familiar names are going to be cut from the 40-man to clear spots, and it's clear that this new front office doesn't see Shaw, a former first-round pick, in their plans. Team officials have talked repeatedly of adding a left-handed bat to the outfield, but Shaw was not brought to Summer Camp in July and wasn't added to the alternate site until late August when most teams added players who might be trade chips.

Shaw, 26, is a good dude and a hard worker who needs a fresh start elsewhere. The Giants will need the roster flexibility. Whether it's a trade or something else, the odds are good that Shaw is wearing a different uniform next spring.

"}]}

Ten Giants players who could be on different teams in 2021 MLB season