It’s been a rough spring for Matt Cain. The Giants’ fifth starter posted a 7.82 ERA in seven starts during the pre-season, showing little improvement from the 5.64 ERA he posted last season, or the 5.79 ERA he had in 2014.
Despite the fact that the Giants are giving him one last shot to turn his career around this season, ESPN baseball expert Tim Kurkjian thinks the fan favorite is likely done when it comes to being a productive starter.
“I don’t think so,” Kurkjian told The Audible when asked if Cain can turn things around. “Sorry guys this is four years now that he has not been the pitcher that he used to be. I’m hopeful for him at age 32 that he can find it but based on what most of his spring looked like, it’s gonna be tough just to say ‘alright now, it counts I’m going to turn it on here.’ I’m just not as hopeful for him that this is going to turn around and that he’s going to be anywhere close to the Matt Cain of old.”
Cain hasn’t posted a sub 4.00 ERA since the 2012 season, the first year after receiving a five year, $112,000 million contract. The $20 million Cain is due from the Giants in 2017 is his last year of guaranteed money.
Kurkjian also said he understands why the Giants didn’t break the bank for a free agent left fielder this offseason, but thinks they probably should’ve done that.
“Well, I think it would’ve been helpful if they went and got a veteran, everyday left fielder such as Ryan Braun. I think you could say they should’ve done that also, but there’s a lot of money involved there, you have to give up a lot of people to do it, so I understand why they didn’t do that. With the way (Chris) Marrero played and (Jarrett) Parker and the other people they have out there, maybe they can mix and match and platoon and make that a productive position. But I think they’ve pretty much addressed everything else.”
Listen to the full interview below.
