D-Backs seized moment by signing Bumgarner
Ace brings leadership, competitiveness to club
For many reasons the Arizona Diamondbacks could have passed on the opportunity to sign left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Few people would have blamed them.
Adding to the starting rotation wasn’t high on the list of priorities. Bumgarner was going to be expensive. He’s 30 and already pitched more than 1,800 innings. The warning signs of potential decline are the size of billboards.
Still, I like that the Diamondbacks, and General Manager Mike Hazen specifically, considered the risks, then proceeded to sign Bumgarner on a fiveyear, $85 million contract.
The safe play would have been to pass on Bumgarner and stick to a postseason plan that had the Diamondbacks adding a starting pitcher later rather than sooner.
Bumgarner let the Diamondbacks know they were his first choice, and the Diamondbacks were wise enough not to overthink their good fortune. Bumgarner fills two immediate needs, one tangible and the other abstract. The tangible: Filling a void
The trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Astros last July created a void at the top of the rotation. In Bumgarner, the Diamondbacks add a talented left-hander who built a career with the Giants
by taking the ball every five days and pitching well in the biggest moments.
The Diamondbacks like their pitching depth, but couldn’t be sure that any one of the projected starters – Robbie Ray, Luke Weaver, Zac Gallen, Taylor Clarke, Merrill Kelly, Mike Leake, etc. – would emerge as a clear No. 1 starter.
“When we traded Zack last year, we knew we were missing something at the top of our rotation,” Hazen said. “We knew, over the next couple years, finding somebody to anchor our rotation was going to be a need.”
Bumgarner, however, does have considerable mileage on him. His fastball and cutter haven’t been as effective lately, and a year ago he pitched much better at home (Oracle Park) than he did in smaller parks on the road.
The Diamondbacks didn’t blow by those warning signs. They paused, considered the risks, and decided, correctly, to continue the journey to sign Bumgarner.
There are good reasons for that. Bumgarner has been incredibly durable throughout his career. Plus, he’s smart, committed, and there’s a good chance he will make adjustments over the next few years that will maintain his effectiveness.
As Hazen noted, Greinke successfully “reinvented” himself every season he was with the Diamondbacks. Bumgarner should be able to do that, too, as it becomes necessary.
The abstract: Leadership
As a pitcher, Bumgarner will do well to match the production of Greinke, who was 55-29 over four seasons in Arizona.
But as a leader, his impact could be greater than that of Greinke’s.
That’s not a knock against Greinke. His work ethic was unquestioned, his quirkiness endearing. Like last year when he mused that throwing a nohitter wouldn’t be worth the trouble because of the attention it would bring.
Bumgarner, in contrast, doesn’t hide his emotions on the mound. That’s a nice way of saying he occasionally gets the “red ass,” a baseball term for showing irritation.
Bumgarner is competitive, believes in playing baseball “the right way,” and he takes exception to hitters who pause, preen or flip a bat after a big hit.
Last year, Bumgarner barked at the Dodgers’ Max Muncy because Bumgarner thought Muncy paused a little too long after hitting the ball out of Oracle Park and into McCovey Cove.
Bumgarner told Muncy to run and not watch the ball. Muncy retorted that Bumgarner was welcome to go get the ball out of the water.
That fieriness, as well as a strong work ethic, are big reasons the Diamondbacks adjusted their off-season plan to sign Bumgarner. “We felt like we had a young rotation that, as it grows, is going to need a role model who they’re going to look towards for what is it going to mean to be an elite starting pitcher for our team,” Hazen said. “Madison’s done that year over year over year. He represents that every day in his work, in his preparation. We see that from across the field.”
For the past few years the Diamondbacks clubhouse has been filled with nice, easy-going guys who would make good neighbors. They have played decent, entertaining baseball. But change was needed to close even a little on the Dodgers.
An infusion of nastiness and attitude was needed. Bumgarner brings that. That element can’t be measured by analytics, and the Diamondbacks were wise to consider it when the opportunity to sign Bumgarner presented itself.