© Jeff Curry | 2018 Sep 21
Since Farhan Zaidi’s introductory press conference last week, the Giants’ new president of baseball operations has been peppered with questions revolving around the future of Madison Bumgarner. Zaidi has chosen not to answer the question directly, but has also made it clear that everything is on the table.
It looks like that does indeed include Bumgarner according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, who reported on Friday morning that the four-time All-Star is one of a handful of big-name pitchers available for trade according to his sources.
Bumgarner, 29, is under contract for one more year before hitting free agency next offseason. Bumgarner is coming off back-to-back injury-riddled seasons where he started a combined 38 games. From 2011-16, Bumgarner averaged 32.5 starts per season. Though not in the lineup as often, Bumgarner has still been effective on the mound, posting ERAs of 3.32 and 3.26 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Here’s what Zaidi said during his press conference when asked about the prospect of trading Bumgarner.
“The last time I was going through this interview, job transition process was in 2014. I was in the Oakland airport watching the end of the 2014 World Series, and I saw Madison finish off that superhuman effort in that last game,” Zaidi said. “It’s funny, I remember at the time thinking: I’m working with the A’s, I may be going to the Dodgers, two Giants rivals, and I can’t help but as a baseball fan have such an appreciation for what this team and this guy have just done.
“He’s been a seminal pillar of this franchise for a long time and that carries a lot of weight. At the same time, this is kind of day one for me. I’m eager to get opinions from a wide range of people on what they think makes sense in terms of a broader direction. I think where we, are everything’s got to be on the table in terms of how we move this team and roster forward.”
