Milwaukee Brewers Rumors: Madison Bumgarner a Trade Target?

The Milwaukee Brewers have been linked to many names in this offseason about getting some high profile talent. Whether it be huge names or middle of the road names, the Brewers have been throwing their name in the hat for new players to add to their 2019 roster for another historic run.

The most recent name connected to the Milwaukee Brewers is Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner will be a free agent after the 2019 season but the Giants are looking into possible trades involving the 29 year old lefty.

One of those deals would send the crafty veteran to Milwaukee if the cards are played well. According to a report from Jon Morosi, the Brewers are among the teams with interest in Bumgarner.

Madison Bumgarner Background

The San Francisco Giants have won three World Series championships in the past eight years.  The 2014 season was the year that Madison Bumgarner became a household name for baseball fans everywhere after winning the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP awards. However, his best performance was the 2015 season:

• 18-9 Record
• 2.93 ERA
• 234 SO
• 218.1 IP
• 1.008 WHIP
• 4 CG (led the Majors)

The 2018 season was one to forget for the team in the Bay Area after going 73-89 and finishing 18.5 games back in the National League West division. The last two seasons haven’t been great for the Giants, as a matter of fact.

Bumgarner’s 2018 season wasn’t the best considering how lights out the “Mad Bum” is known to be. He went 6-7, had a 3.26 ERA, pitched 129.2 innings, struck out 109 batters and had a WHIP of 1.242 and started 21 games. After a run in with a dirt bike last season, Bumgarner has not been his normal self after injuries had him shelved for the remainder of the 2017 season.

In his whole career, Bumgarner is 110-83, has a 3.03 ERA, 1591 SO, 1638.1 IP and a WHIP of 1.108 in 255 games (252 games started).  Let’s also not forget that Bumgarner is also known as a threat in the batter’s box.  Don’t let the .183 career batting average fool you, because he has 17 career homers and 58 RBI.  His best year hitting wise was 2014 where he hit four home runs, drove in 15 and batted .258; however, he hit five home runs the year after.  He is also a 4-time All-Star and a 2-time Silver Slugger award winner.

Trading For Bumgarner

The Brewers are one of two known teams (Philadelphia) that are showing high interest in Madison Bumgarner. The question is, who is Milwaukee willing to trade in order to pick up the longtime Giants ace? And what about the other starting pitchers the Brewers already have?

More than likely, San Francisco will be asking for some prospects and not any big names from the Major League roster. The only thing that will hurt Milwaukee is that San Francisco might ask for top prospect and Arizona Fall League MVP, Keston Hiura.

But the Giants are in need of pitching. Names that could be discussed with San Fran are Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff or Freddy Peralta. Only one of these pitchers would be needed in a trade package, and Burnes is likely untouchable.

The Giants would also like to add to their batting line up and some names the Brewers could deal away–position player wise–are either Keon Broxton or Domingo Santana. That would add depth and more bodies in the outfield for San Francisco, where they need some help.

It’s still the early stages of trade negotiations, and it’s still unclear how far Milwaukee is willing to go in order to snag an ace.