Report: Diamondbacks DFA Madison Bumgarner
As reported by Nick Piecoro of AZ Central, The Diamondbacks have DFA'd Madison Bumgarner. No official team roster move has been announced yet, but Piecoro also reports that Tommy Henry will likely take his place in the rotation and make the next start scheduled in that slot, which would be Monday at home against the Kansas City Royals
When a player is designated for assignment he's removed from the team's 40-man roster and will be placed on outright waivers. As no team would be willing to absorb his contract, he will be a free agent can sign with any team offering any amount agreed to.
This has been a development a long time in the making. Signed to a five year, $85 million dollar free agent contract by the Diamondbacks on December 17th, 2019, Bumgarner has struggled ever since arriving in Arizona. The team was set to pay him $23 million in 2023 and $14 million in 2024, and is still on the hook for approximately $35 million. Bumgarner finishes his career with the Diamondbacks having gone 15-32 with a 5.32 ERA, a deep fall for the former World Series hero for the San Francisco Giants.
After the shutdown of spring training in 2020 Bumgarner struggled with almost five mile per hour velocity loss and was largely ineffective in nine starts, posting a 1-4 record and a 6.48 ERA. That season ended with a little hope however as he had back to back scoreless five inning outings to finish the year.
In 2021 he was slightly better, making 26 starts, going 7-10 with a 4.67 ERA. The highlight came on April 25th that year against Atlanta when he threw a no-hit shutout for seven innings in the first game of a double header. He was not credited with an official no-hitter for his efforts however. Through the first 7 starts of 2022 his ERA was 1.78 ERA, but his peripherals suggested trouble might be waiting as he had a 4.69 FIP (Fielding independent pitching). That turned out to be the case as he had a very bad nine start stretch from July 29th to September 16th where he posted a 7.82 ERA. He ended the season 7-15 , 4.88 and the team just 12-18 in the starts he made.
At the end of last year Mike Hazen indicated that while his "incumbency" would mean that he wouldn't need to enter in a spring competition to keep his rotation spot, once the season started he would need to perform to hold his spot in the rotation. He did not perform. His four starts this year have each been extremely poor, resulting in a 10.26 ERA and the team losing three of those games.
Left-hander Henry made nine starts last year posting a 3-4 record with a 5.36 ERA as a 24 year old rookie. In his most recent start for Reno he threw over six innings, allowing just two runs. The D-backs have called up left-handed reliever Anthony Misiewicz as the corresponding roster move. He'll add more depth to a tired bullpen between now and Henry's next scheduled start on Monday.
We will follow up later with reaction from the manager and general manager once the move is official and they have spoken to the media.
