© Joe Camporeale | 2019 Aug 18
It’s not the Dodgers, but Madison Bumgarner joining another NL West rival for a moderate payday still has to sting for most Giants fans.
Bumgarner reportedly agreed to terms on a five-year, $85 million deal with the D-Backs, electing to walk away from the Giants’ reported four years and $70ish million offer. That would’ve been worth slightly more per year than Arizona’s offer, but offered less in terms of security.
But perhaps it wasn’t all about the money and/or years for Bumgarner. ESPN’s Pedro Gomez pointed out on KNBR Monday morning that playing in Arizona was enticing for the big lefty, perhaps even more so than the place he called home for the first 11 seasons of his decorated big league career.
“He’s somebody who likes his surroundings to remain simple and what he’s accustomed to, and the reality is he’s spent close to two months a year in Arizona for the last 10 years because of spring training,” Gomez told Papa & Lund. “He’s got horses that he owns that are in the Phoenix area, Scottsdale area. It’s going to be something that’s going to be an easy transition for him.
“You know he’s got the country, North Carolina background. He’s a simple man, he’s not somebody that’s into the bright lights of the big city. He’s more into, ‘Let me get on my farm and ride my horses.’ He’ll be able to do that year-round (in Arizona).”
The move to Arizona offered a slight change of scenery from an off the field standpoint, while maintaining a level of familiarity when it comes to competing.
“He knows the National League West. Look, he’s still going to face the Dodgers. The D-Backs will face them 19 times. They’ll face the Padres 19 times, the Rockies 19 times, now the new part is he’s be facing the Giants 19 times. Just the familiarity…I think that probably made it an easy decision for him.”
Lastly, the trade-clause in his deal provides an out should the Diamondbacks’ rebuild sputter.
“The D-Backs gave him a limited no-trade clause. So he has five clubs he can put on his list every year, to say ‘I will not go to these clubs.’ That also makes it attractive, because a year, two years down the road if the wheels fall off on the D-Backs operation and it’s just not moving in the right direction, they should be able get something in exchange for somebody like Madison Bumgarner from a playoff contending club, even if it’s two years from now.”
Listen to the full interview below.