Milwaukee Brewers: Trade market for Madison Bumgarner heating up?

Free agent starter Dallas Keuchel has landed with the Atlanta Braves. Could Madison Bumgarner be the next high profile starter to move? Could he make his way to the Milwaukee Brewers?

The San Francisco Giants are in last place in the NL West. They’re 17 games in back of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and 8 1/2 games out of the second Wild Card. They’re almost assured to sell at the non-waiver trade deadline. Their biggest piece is left-hander Madison Bumgarner, who is set to hit free agency in the upcoming off season.

While Bumgarner could choose to stay in San Francisco, there’s also a chance that he’ll be in a new uniform in the next two months. Why not make a championship run with the Milwaukee Brewers?

How is Bumgarner throwing this year?

He’s been fine. In 13 starts, Bumgarner owns a 4.05 actual ERA and a 3.84 xFIP. He’s logged 80 innings, fanned 79, and walked 16. He’s also been tagged for 12 homers.

His velocity is actually up this year compared to last year. His current 91.7 MPH average fastball velocity is the highest it has been since 2015.

Doesn’t he have a no-trade clause?

He does, and the Milwaukee Brewers are one of the teams listed. However, he’s chosen to be strategic with his list instead of pragmatic.

The other teams listed on his ‘no-trade’ list are the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves.

Bumgarner has chosen to name all the contending teams on his ‘no-trade’ list to gain an advantage in negotiations. He can still be traded to these teams, but he has to be asked for permission first. Bumgarner’s representatives could force a contract with a contending team before agreeing to a deal.

What’s the Giants’ asking price?

It’s said to be four real prospects, but that many young players for a three-to-four month rental is unlikely. The New York Yankees are rumored to be sniffing around Bumgarner right now, but they are in a similar situation to the Milwaukee Brewers. They don’t really have the high-end talent that the Giants would want in a deal.

The Milwaukee Brewers would have to play the waiting game on Bumgarner if they wanted to add him for the stretch run. They would have to wait for the asking price to come down, and hope that the Giants have interest in a more reasonable rental package built around names like Corey Ray and Mauricio Dubon instead of Keston Hiura and Freddy Peralta.

The Brewers could also stay on the sidelines for Bumgarner and make a play for names like Marcus Stroman, Robbie Ray, or Zack Wheeler if they find the Giants demands to be ridiculous.