© Kirby Lee | 2019 Apr 1
It’s a Giants fan’s worst nightmare. Madison Bumgarner, in Dodger blue, helping LA win their first World Series title since 1988.
It could never actually happen, right? Wrong, according to Ken Rosenthal, who reported on Tuesday night that the Dodgers have “shifted their focus” to acquiring the left-handed free agent.
But would the Dodgers really look to acquire a player who helped their rivals win three World Series championships? They must be bluffing to try and drive the price tag up, right?
Not according to Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, who told Murph & Mac Wednesday morning that Bum and the Dodgers are a perfect fit.
“It’s a perfect fit for him, it really is,” Kuip said. “What haven’t they been able to do? They win a thousand games in the regular season and they can’t win in the World Series. Here’s a guy that all he does is win in the World Series. So that’s why it’s the perfect fit.”
The Dodgers have won the NL West seven years in a row, yet don’t have a single World Series title to show for it. Clayton Kershaw, arguably the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history, has struggled in the postseason, posting a 4.43 ERA in 25 playoff appearances, and a 5.40 ERA in five World Series appearances. Compare that with Bumgarner, whose 0.25 ERA in five World Series appearances make him arguably the greatest big game pitcher ever.
It’s possible that the optics of Bumgarner going to the Dodgers would be so bad, especially in light of the fan base’s current frustration towards new manager Gabe Kapler, that the Giants will decide to re-sign Bumgarner for more than they’d initially be willing to. Kuiper believes it will have to be at least more than Zack Wheeler’s 5-year, $118 million deal he just inked with the Phillies.
“If I’m Madison Bumgarner, and I see what Zack Wheeler got, and I don’t even know if Zack Wheeler’s pitched in a postseason game, I’m going to have to get at least one dollar more than that guy.”