Should Texas Rangers Pursue Madison Bumgarner?
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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