Could Madison Bumgarner Be a Fit for the Chicago Cubs?

Madison Bumgarner was recently released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Could the lefty be a fit for the Chicago Cubs?

Kade Kistner | Apr 22, 2023

Could Madison Bumgarner Be a Fit for the Chicago Cubs? /

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Starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner was recently designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks. From time of DFA to the end of a seven day period, teams can either claim or trade for Bumgarner.

However, both are unlikely to happen as Bumgarner is still owed $34.4 million of his five-year, $85 million deal. That means, Bumgarner will be free to sign with an MLB team for the Major League minimum of $720,000.

It begs the question: could he be a fit for the Chicago Cubs?

The Cubs would not want to insert him in the rotation as Bumgarner owns a 10.26 ERA over 16.2 innings pitched this season along with four home runs allowed. His fastball is sitting at 89.5-mph. He has looked nothing like himself.

Unless a team like the Oakland Athletics takes a flier on him, it's hard to see him fitting into any rotation in the league.

But what about the bullpen?

At this point, it may be the only way for Bumgarner to stay in the MLB. But he would have to agree to the transition.

Chicago has one lefty in the bullpen in Brandon Hughes. Bumgarner is a left-handed pitcher so that may play in his case for joining a contender like the Cubs.

But that would mean someone in the bullpen currently would have to be optioned.

Julian Merryweather and Michael Fulmer have proven to be the weak links this season as Javier Assad was optioned on Friday.

Fulmer doesn't appear to be going anywhere as he was inked to a one-year $4 million contract this winter. The team will give him a shot to improve.

Merryweather was claimed off of waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays and hasn't performed well this season as he has given up eight earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched.

DFA'ing Merryweather and adding Bumgarner would add a lefty to the bullpen and would act as a similar "wild card" in the bullpen. Bumgarner has a track record and pedigree that Merryweather clearly does not.

It could be worth a shot for Chicago if they wish to take a flier and diversify their pitching staff at the same time. It would be very low-risk and if Bumgarner can recapture anything that resembles his old stuff, it could pay dividends.

Plus, the factor of veteran, championship leadership on a young staff cannot be undersold.

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Published Apr 22, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.