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MLB free agency 2019: Five potential landing spots for Madison Bumgarner

By Joshua Sadlock

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 03: Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 03, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 03: Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 03, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 02: San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) looks on during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 2, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 02: San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) looks on during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 2, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos caught a ton of heat when he was overheard discussing his offseason plans with fellow front-office executives from other teams. The MLB Players Association was quick to call it collusion, but that’s probably an overreaction – at least when it comes to the Braves. Atlanta has already made it very clear they plan to make aggressive offers to at least two free agents – third baseman Josh Donaldson and Bumgarner.

It’s no secret the Braves need a veteran starting pitcher to anchor their young rotation. That’s why they signed Dallas Keuchel last June, and it’s why they are setting themselves up to be the biggest bidder for Bumgarner. Mike Soroka and Max Fried are spectacular youngsters, but they still need an established workhorse to shoulder the burden of pitching the most innings on the staff. Bumgarner fits that bill in a major way. He has topped 200 innings in all but two of his nine full seasons in the big leagues and would have done so in 2017 if not for his self-inflicted dirt bike injuries.

Bumgarner grew up in rural North Carolina and was a diehard Braves fan during the era of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Signing with Atlanta would be a homecoming of sorts, similar to Donaldson’s, as the third baseman is an Alabama product. Of the teams on this list, Atlanta just makes the most sense for a number of reasons – location, need, budget.

The Braves would love to be able to sign Cole, but won’t have the type of money needed to land him. Zack Wheeler is also another option and the Braves are familiar with him, but he isn’t a sure thing due to his injury history. With their stacked lineup and electric young arms, the Braves just need a veteran who can guarantee them six strong innings every time out. That’s Bumgarner, and he could be one of the first big free agents to sign this winter.

Next. One free agent each MLB team needs to target. dark

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