© Stan Szeto | 2019 Jun 30
We’re just over three weeks away from the MLB trade deadline, and the San Francisco Giants have a number of large chips that are expected to be moved. Arguably the biggest of which is soon-to-be free agent Madison Bumgarner, who has been the subject of rumors since last season.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic published a report on Monday morning, updating the list of teams interested in acquiring the left-hander. Three of which are on Bumgarner’s eight team no-trade list.
The Astros, Twins, Braves and Brewers are among the clubs interested in Bumgarner, according to major-league sources. None of those clubs will publicly admit as much — no, no, they’re just kicking the tires! — and the Twins are the only one in that group that can acquire Bumgarner without his permission.
As previously reported, the Astros, Braves and Brewers are on Bumgarner’s eight-team no-trade list, as are the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and Cardinals. Bumgarner compiled the list strategically, seeking leverage, a measure of control, over the teams he figured might want him most. As a potential free agent, he should be motivated to approve a deal; if traded, he will be ineligible for a qualifying offer and exempt from draft-pick compensation.
As Rosenthal alluded to above, Bumgarner strategically placed teams that he thinks are most likely to be interested in his services (see: contenders) on his no-trade list. Doing so gives Bumgarner leverage to seek compensation from the Giants to waive the clause, should they find an interested suitor that is on his list.
It would seem Bumgarner’s trade value has only increased in recent weeks. The ace struck out 20 combined over two starts on June 25 and 30, while allowing just three runs on seven hits in those 13 innings. Bumgarner was knocked out of his start on Saturday after taking a line drive off his pitching elbow, but is not expected to miss any time.