Now that we know the teams on San Francisco Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner’s no-trade list, will it actually be easy for Bumgarner to be traded? Will he be traded at all?
When I first saw the list of teams on San Francisco Giants‘ pitcher Madison Bumgarner‘s no-trade list, I audibly laughed. It was by far one of the most meticulously picked lists I’ve seen in the years of no-trade lists.
Madison Bumgarner’s eight-team no-trade list, per sources:#Braves#RedSox#Cubs#Astros#Brewers#Yankees#Phillies#STLCards
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 11, 2019
Bumgarner chose teams strategically; list comprised solely of contenders that might want to acquire him from #SFGiants, not teams he wants to avoid.
What do all of these teams have in common? Well, who have you heard in the rumor mill regarding interest in Bumgarner? Please see above.
Like seriously this might be the most hilarious list I’ve ever seen.
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Who would make a no-trade list of all the teams that are interested in your services? They are all contenders! You could get that oh so coveted World Series ring!
But this is no ordinary commodity.
No, Madison Bumgarner is by far the most unique commodity of many years of trades. Why? I think it is safe to say he has a good enough mantle of accomplishments already in his few big-league years.
Four-time all-star, two-time silver slugger, three-time world champion and of course 2014 NLCS and World Series MVP. So this has nothing to do with chasing rings for the 29-year-old lefty.
No, this is a message being sent to the new front office.
That message? If you’re going to trade me away, it better be for a good reason… or with some extra compensation attached.
This would never have even been discussed if the old regime of Bobby Evans and Brian Sabean were still at the baseball operations helm but now with Farhan Zaidi taking over, the message needs to be sent. Zaidi was clearly hired to rebuild an aging San Francisco Giants roster with Bumgarner being currently on the younger end.
So yes, he is a valuable trade chip that could entice competing teams to call Zaidi’s phone. But the list puts a barricade in the way of Zaidi’s road to rebuilding.
To me the list means more than just ‘I don’t want to be traded to these teams’, it means that Bumgarner really doesn’t want to be traded at all.
Considering the teams listed, they not only are perennial contenders, they have some of the larger payrolls in the league; meaning they would look to try to extend Bumgarner once his current contract ends come year’s end.
Bumgarner probably would like to remain a Giant. He has built a strong legacy already and he clearly had a great relationship with the front office and his team up to this point.
It seems disrespectful that last year he was one of three players on a ‘do not trade’ list with Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey and now this year he is the top of the rumor mill.
Hopefully, one of two things happens in the Madison Bumgarner talks; it either dies because the San Francisco Giants no longer finds a need to move him or if he does get moved, it is with a well-deserved pay raise.