SF Giants: The case for a reunion with LHP Madison Bumgarner

Former SF Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner is likely going to be back on the free-agent market. Natasha Welingkar makes the case for a reunion.

It's no secret that the SF Giants had a disappointing offseason. After starting the season 6-11, the pressure is mounting on president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler to turn things around. But even if the team is falling short of expectations, that's not the only reason fan morale seems to be at the lowest point this century. The Giants are boring a huge chunk of the fanbase. There are barely any vestiges of the franchise's dynastic run from 2010-2014. Well, with the Arizona Diamondbacks designating left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner for assignment earlier today, the Giants could soon have an opportunity to bring a player back into the fold to capture some of the fanbase's attention.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner throws a pitch against the SF Giants during a game at Oracle Park. (2022) / D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Bumgarner, of course, was the Giants' ace for many years. A homegrown talent drafted in the first round out of high school, Bumgarner starred in San Francisco from 2009-2019 before he departed in free agency to sign a five-year, $90 million contract with Arizona.

His recent struggles have likely ensured Bumgarner will fall short of Cooperstown, but the former Giants ace is certainly in the Hall of Fame of the Giants' fanbase's hearts. His performances in the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series will go down in Bay Area sports history. A true competitor with a tough-it-out-and-win mentality, he grew to be a fan favorite very quickly, often putting the whole team on his back. His departure to a division-rival broke a lot of hearts, but now he may have a chance to retire as a member of the Giants.

There's no way around how bad Bumgarner's tenure in Arizona turned out. He only made 69 starts with Arizona across four seasons and recorded a 5.23 ERA in 363.1 innings pitched. The southpaw has fallen a long way from the combination of dominance and durability he maintained at his peak from 2013-2016. This season, Bumgarner got off to a horrendous start. In four starts with the Dbacks this year, Bumgarner has a 10.26 ERA with 15 walks and 10 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched.

At 33, and struggling to perform, Bumgarner seems to be nearing retirement. But with his competitive nature, is he ready to hang up his hat? Probably not.

Bumgarner will clear waivers and almost assuredly request his release to become a free agent in the coming weeks. Back on the open market, the Giants owe it to their fanbase to look into bring him back on a minor-league contract. The organization can give Bumgarner a chance to work with the team's player development coaches in Arizona and at Triple-A Sacramento to try and rekindle some success. His days as a starter may be behind him, but the Giants do not have a single left-handed pitcher on their 40-man roster in the minor leagues. With Taylor Rogers struggling, Kapler could use another left-handed reliever.

Could Bumgarner rejuvenate his career with a move to the bullpen? His attacking mentality on the mound sure seems fitting for a late-inning reliever. Perhaps his fastball could gain enough velocity to be passable once again, and it's easy to see his deceptive mechanics making him a viable LOOGY if he can improve his arsenal.

Moreover, the move would carry zero risk for the Giants. Since his contract with Arizona spans through the 2024 season, San Francisco would have team control of Bumgarner for more than a season but would only have to pay a pro-rated league minimum salary if he eventually makes the team.

Will Madison Bumgarner save the SF Giants' 2023 season? Probably not. But with fan morale low and the team thin on left-handed pitching depth, Farhan Zaidi should at least make a call when MadBum hits free agency to see if a reunion can be arranged.