Should Texas Rangers Pursue Madison Bumgarner?

Is pitcher Madison Bumgarner. designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks, a fit for the Texas Rangers?

Kade Kistner | Apr 22, 2023

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There is always talk about where a star player could end up after being designated for assignment. It's a rarity that a player with Bumgarner's pedigree is DFA'd, but it does happen.

Bumgarner can now be claimed or traded to another team within the next seven days. If he clears waivers, which is likely as no team is going to trade for him, the team who then signs him only has to pay the league minimum $720,000 to Bumgarner for his services.

That has prompted rumors of a potential reunion with the San Francisco Giants and nearly every other team who needs pitching help. But one team who was mentioned specifically by ESPN's Buster Olney was the Texas Rangers. He cited the trust and familiarity of manager Bruce Bochy and Bumgarner due to their tenure together with the Giants.

But is Bumgarner a fit for Texas?

For starters, he wouldn't crack the rotation. That's a given. So Bumgarner would be relegated to a bullpen role. Perhaps at this point in his career he could see an revival of sorts, but asking an intense competitor like Bumgarner to move to the bullpen when he likely feels he still has more to give as a starter is a tough ask.

But for argument's sake, let's say Bumgarner does accept a hypothetical bullpen role to stay in the MLB. Would he be an upgrade for the Rangers 'pen?

The weak link the bullpen right now is Josh Sborz, who is on what is likely his final look with the team. He has thrown 4 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball this season and he is an analytics darling.

Bringing on Bumgarner would likely mean the DFA of Sborz, who has no minor league options available. He would almost certainly be claimed on waivers by another team.

Is Bumgarner, who has given up 19 earned runs, four home runs and walked 15 in 16 2/3 innings this season an upgrade from Sborz?

At this point, almost certainly not.

Texas is supremely confident in its new rotation and has been able to heavily rely on its bullpen to start the season. Injecting a wild card like Bumgarner, solely for the name brand, is something the Rangers will likely not pursue. No matter the relationship he and Bochy have.

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Published Apr 22, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies, Cubs and Astros. He is also an editor for Inside the Rangers. 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.