Jul 19, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Chad Gaudin (57) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at AT&T Park

In what has turned into a lost season of late-inning blowups, sloppy defense and poor hitting (yes, I’m talking about you Pablo), the “defending champions” sit at 52-65 and are in last place in the NL West. It has been a nightmare of a season for the San Francisco Giants, and 2014 can’t come soon enough.

But no matter how dreadful a season may be, one can always look for the positives. Madison Bumgarner is proving himself as one of the best in the game. Buster Posey and Marco Scutaro are hitting over .300. Brandon Belt has started to turn his career around.

What may be the most surprising story line of the 2013 season is the emergence of 30-year-old Chad Gaudin as one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the Giants rotation. A broken hand to Ryan Vogelsong opened up a slot in the rotation for the journey-man Gaudin, who signed a $750,000 contract to play for the ninth team in his 11-year career.

Whether he stays with San Francisco or goes elsewhere, he will be getting a much fatter paycheck then the one he is getting now. Gaudin has epitomized the term “reliable” – as a long reliever and starter, he has posted a stellar 2.42 ERA. Other than a bad outing against the Reds on July 24th, Gaudin has given the Giants a chance to win, as San Francisco has gone 7-4 in games he has started.

Gaudin’s out-of-nowhere season is similar to that of Ryan Vogelsong, whom, oddly enough, he replaced.

Vogelsong, after being drafted by San Francisco, bounced around the minor leagues and Japan until he found his stuff in 2011. He was named to the NL All Star team in 2011, and he followed by posting a 3.37 ERA in 2012. His postseason was even better, winning Game 3 of the NLDS to keep San Francisco’s season alive, winning Game 2 and 6 of the NLCS, and then putting the Giants in position for a World Series sweep with a Game 3 victory.

Unfortunately, Gaudin won’t be able to showcase himself come this October, but if the Giants want to make a run to the playoffs in 2014, then re-signing Gaudin is a necessity.

San Francisco will have Bumgarner and Matt Cain atop the rotation, and they will most certainly have to account for Ryan Vogelsong’s $6 million dollar option for next season. Beloved Tim Lincecum is a wild card, he could sign the one year, $13.8 million tendered contract that he is going to be offered or look for a longer term deal. Regardless, there would still be an open spot in the rotation that would need to be filled.

Gaudin’s versatility is a major plus. He can either start, come in for short relief, or be the long man in the rotation. There are not many pitchers in baseball like this, thus making Gaudin valuable. He can start the year in the rotation and then if Edwin Escobar or another prospect is ready to come up, he could transition smoothly to the pen if asked upon.

He is only 30 years old and still has a few more good seasons in his arm. If he asks for a two-year, $9 million dollar deal, then the Giants should give it to him. He should be relied upon to help hold together together this rotation for the 2014 season before the top prospects of Escobar, Kyle Crick, Clayton Blackburn and Chris Stratton are major league ready.

Gaudin is definitely not receiving the praise that he deserves in the dreadful 2013 campaign. Perhaps he should be replaced by Michael Kickham every fifth day for the fan base to truly appreciate his value to the team.

Sure, 2013 has been a nightmare. But if San Francisco wants to make 2014 memorable, then resigning Chad Gaudin is a good first step.