© Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
As the San Francisco Giants prepare for their first game of Spring Training on Friday afternoon, Jon Morosi reported that Bobby Evans said on MLB Network Radio that there’s a “mutual interest” to draw up an extension with Madison Bumgarner, although nothing is imminent.
Bobby Evans told us on @MLBNetworkRadio that there’s “mutual interest” in an extension with Madison Bumgarner but no active conversation at the moment — or a firm timeline to start talks. #SFGiants have $12M club option for ’19. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 21, 2018
Bumgarner has done more than enough to earn a high-paying extension from the Giants, but they aren’t in the best financial standing to give their ace what he’s fully worth.
Both Johnny Cueto and Buster Posey are under contract until 2021 and both will be paid roughly $21 million each year until their deals expire. The Giants also have money going to Jeff Samarzija and Mark Melancon, both of whom will be paid around $19 million the next two years before becoming free agents in 2021.
Not to mention, it’s yet to be seen how Bumgarner will bounce back after missing much of last season with a shoulder injury he suffered while dirt biking last April. If Bumgarner can’t regain the consistency he had from 2013-2016, then the Giants might be wary to take on a long-term contact.
In 2012, Bumgarner signed a five-year extension with the Giants worth $35 million with team options in 2018 and 2019. The Giants have since exercised their option on Bumgarner for this season and have at least until 2020 to drew up an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The extension Bumgarner signed in 2012 still would’ve been a bargain, even if he hadn’t carried the Giants to the 2014 World Series championship. Before his extension, Bumgarner had started six postseason games between 2010 and 2012, and pitched an eight and seven inning shutout in the 2010 and 2012 World Series respectively.
He then went on to cement himself as one of the greatest World Series pitchers in history with a dominating performance over the Kansas City Royals in 2014, where he pitched 21 innings and allowed only one run to win two games and earn a save.