Yankees’ Potential Trade Target: Madison Bumgarner
It’s no question that the Yankees
need to add a starting pitcher prior to the July 31 deadline. The Yankees need
a proven starter who could take the ball in big games and thrive under the
pressure of pitching in October. No pitcher on the trade market, and arguably
in all of baseball, has the postseason credentials of Madison Bumgarner.
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| Photo Credit: gettyimages/ Mike Stobe |
A three-time World Series Champion,
Bumgarner owns a remarkable 2.11 ERA with 7.7 K/9 in 102 1/3 postseason innings
pitched. All that said, Bumgarner can’t be looked at as the pitcher he once
was. His numbers have declined, and he has battled through some injuries in the
past couple of years, but his numbers still are not bad. In 116.2 innings in
2019, MadBum has pitched to a 3.86 ERA, 3.79 FIP, and struck out 9.33 batters
per nine innings. Bumgarner has pitched well recently, going 20 innings while allowing
just four earned runs and striking out 28 over his last four starts (he was
limited to just two innings in one of those starts as he had to exit the game
after being hit with a line drive). That
comes out to an ERA of 1.80 and 12.6 K/9.
There are still hurdles to jump
over in order to get Bumgarner in pinstripes, beginning with his no-trade list
that includes the Yankees. However, it is considered to be likely that he would
waive his no trade clause, as players who are dealt during the season are not
eligible to receive qualifying offers in free agency. After watching Dallas
Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel wait until after the draft in June to sign, it is
hard to believe Bumgarner wouldn’t do what he could to avoid receiving a
qualifying offer.
Another obstacle is what the
Yankees are willing to give up for a rental. San Francisco is likely to ask for
Clint Frazier in return, but there are reports New York has no intentions of
trading Frazier for a rental, so the two teams will need to find common ground
elsewhere. The Yankees have a lot of young pitching prospects they could offer
but would probably prefer to not part ways with any of their top guys like
Albert Abreu, Deivi Garcia, and Jonathan Loaisiga when acquiring a rental. That
said, the Yankees will have to give up something significant, as Bumgarner is
one of the top available pitchers at the deadline. New York might look to trade
a young position player from an area of surplus, such as Thairo Estrada who has
value but is currently blocked by more proven players. It would also make sense
for the Giants to ask for one of the Yankees’ younger pitching prospects in
return who are still several years away from the big leagues but possess a lot
of potential.
I’m not suggesting Bumgarner will be
the next Verlander, but it is plausible to believe a move to a contending team
will make a big-game pitcher like MadBum improve. If Cashman can find a way to get
Bumgarner in the Bronx, the Yankees will feel significantly better about their
starting pitching going into the postseason knowing they have a proven winner
to help lead the staff.
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