The San Francisco Giants are in midst of a rebuilding process. After a disappointing 73-89 season, it is clear that this team’s prime days are over. This became much more evident with the departure of former World Champions such as Matt Cain and Hunter Pence. With rebuilding come risks and transactions, however, the Giants have adopted an All or nothing at all kind of mentality and in the middle of a quiet offseason the bay team is open to trading one of their biggest names. No, San Francisco should not trade Madison Bumgarner. Here is why:
Too Much To Ask
The Giants have discussed trading the lefty All-Star to the Milwaukee Brewers. San Francisco is interested in acquiring Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff or, Corbin Burnes. While any of those three players would help solidify a bullpen desperate of help, they are too much to ask for a pitcher that has had a consistent drop in quality during the last couple of seasons.
Bumgarner comes from a pair of odd years where things have not really gone his way. While his numbers are not bad, they are not what we once were used to seeing from him. The former World Series MVP started just 17 games on the mound during 2017. He finished that year with a 3.32 ERA giving up an average of eight hits per game. While his numbers improved last season, they were still off for his standards. He finished off the year with a 6-7 record and a 3.26 ERA. Once again, he did not suit up for his usual 30+ games per season. This does not make him “untraddable”, but San Francisco’s demands seem almost ridiculous given the pitcher’s recent form.
A Recurring Case Of The Injury Bug
Much like his recent out of touch work on the mound, getting hurt has also been a recurring issue for the Giants’ starter. The 29-year-old has been bothered by injuries like pesky mosquitoes in a hot summer night. Bumgarner crashed his dirt bike in Colorado back in 2017 and the results of the incident were not pretty. A set of bruised ribs and, more importantly, a grade 2 sprain in the AC joint of his pitching arm sidelined him for a big chuck of that year’s season. 2018 was not much different either as he broke his pitching hand on a line drive during a spring training game.
Trading for him is an invitation to play with fire as injuries seem to strike hard on the former World Champion.
The Face Of The Franchise
It is impossible to be a winning team all the time. When times are hard both the franchise and their fanbase have to find a way to go through the rough seasons with a bit of hope and enthusiasm. So What does the Giants’ faithful do when their team rots in the bottom of the standings? They cheer for the faces they know, the ones they know are welded shut to the team. Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt might be folk heroes to many, but they are not in same level of idolatry and likeness the San Francisco fans have for the veteran lefty. Trading him would be giving away one of the few good things left in San Francisco.
Bad Timing
Even if the Giants still go ahead with the trade, this offseason would be a horrible time to exchange their most valuable arm. Sure, the prospect of getting top class relievers and decent prospects is good enough to think about it, but it is not enough. Why trade now when you can wait for the trade deadline? Contending for a spot in the postseason seems unlikely for the Giants judging by how things went for them last season. Even then they got a good deal out of Andrew McCutchen as they acquired a solid prospect in Abiatal Avelino. Playoff contenders would salivate for a shot at getting a hold of his services, the Giants would just have to wait a bit longer.
Do Not Do It
What did the Marlins do wrong at the start of their rebuilding process? They traded the players they were supposed to build around. That is exactly why trading Bumgarner would be catastrophic for the Giants. After all, if a rebuilding process does not have a leader both on the field and in the clubhouse, such process is destined to fail. It would be easier for the organization to offer him a new deal given the fact that he has shown no interest in leaving the bay. Trading him away would not only be a bad idea, it is plain stupid.
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