MLB rumors: 5 players the San Francisco Giants should trade away

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 09: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball game at Oracle Park on June 9, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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2. SP Madison Bumgarner

Just because it’s obvious doesn’t make it less true. Madison Bumgarner is one of the most coveted starters on the trade market, with the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies atop the list of teams with possible interest.

After fluky injuries cost him time in both 2017 and 2018, Bumgarner has taken all 15 of his turns in the Giants’ rotation thus far. He has gone at least six innings in 14 of those outings, delivering a quality start 11 times as well.

Peak-level “MadBum” is not coming back at this point. But he has a solid 3.87 ERA this year, with a notable uptick in K/9 over 2018 (8.7) and his typical control (1.9 BB/9). Add in his postseason resume, and a broader old-school workhorse mentality he’ll bring with him, and it’s not a surprise multiple contending teams see an opportunity to add Bumgarner with visions of a World Series run.

In the final year of his contract, at an incredibly reasonable $12 million, Bumgarner is a high-level rental for contenders. The Giants can jump-start a restocking of a flailing farm system by moving him, and Zaidi’s aforementioned high asking price may be met when it comes down to it.

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