Bumgarner trade isn’t guaranteed
GIANTS officials have heard few requests for Madison Bumgarner, making him a much stronger candidate to be traded in July than this offseason.
That probably was the most likely outcome all along.
San Francisco named Farhan Zaidi to run baseball operations and did so to try to be more modern, which would mean a team more in rebuilding mode trading a player with one year left on his contract for long-term help.
But a few factors always worked against that:
1. No matter how sturdy an executive is, it is not exactly easy to trade an organizational legend as your first significant move.
2. The Giants do not want to signal outright surrender to their fan base.
3. Bumgarner was limited to 21 starts by injury in 2018 and was good, but not up to his previous brilliance last year. Therefore, with only one year of control, the potential returns did not promise the kind of difference-maker that would compel annoying the fan base so much. Bumgarner’s value was further hurt by having so many lefty starters available in free agency or trade.
4. There is risk of injury or further erosion of skill, but if Bumgarner, 29, pitches more to his career norm in 2019 and, as expected, the Giants do not contend, his value could theoretically be higher in July. For so close to the playoffs, Bumgarner’s postseason historic genius could matter a great deal to a contender.
The Phillies’ choice for a corner outfielder came down to Andrew McCutchen versus Michael Brantley, and McCutchen’s durability motivated Philadelphia to go for him on a three-year, $50 million pact. But the Phillies may not be done with Brantley. The long-held belief this offseason is that the Phillies would land one of the two major free agents, Bryce Harper or Manny Machado. If it turns out to be neither or Machado, who according to sources is their preference, the Phillies would still have need for a lefty bat in their heavily righty lineup and an opening in the corner outfield. They like Brantley enough that they could double back to him, but Brantley does have a market and he could sign before the Phillies know what is happening with Harper/Machado.