5 potential trade packages for MadBum
With only one season left on Madison Bumgarner's contract, the San Francisco Giants are reportedly open to receiving offers for their longtime ace. The news likely sent many rival executives scrambling to their drawing boards.
Of course, getting San Fran's new president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, to pull the trigger will be tricky, but we've put together five packages from likely contenders that could entice him to trade the face of the franchise.
New York Yankees
TO SF: P Sonny Gray, OF Clint Frazier, P Jonathan Loaisiga
The Yankees are looking for one more starter, and MadBum would fill that need with less commitment than signing fellow southpaw Patrick Corbin to a five- or six-year deal in free agency.
Gray, whom New York is looking to trade, would be an interesting reclamation project for the Giants, who play in a pitcher's haven at AT&T Park. Adding intrigue, Gray was drafted by the Athletics back when Zaidi was a member of their front office.
As for the prospect capital, both Frazier and Loaisiga are major-league ready but with no clear openings to start for the Yankees. Frazier does have some concussion history, but he's impressed as a hitter at every level when healthy. Loaisiga displayed strikeout potential in the minors during 2018, earning himself call-ups in June and September. New York could probably add more, but this package appears pretty fair.
Houston Astros
TO SF: P J.B. Bukauskas, P Framber Valdez, OF Myles Straw
The potential losses of both Charlie Morton and Dallas Keuchel to free agency along with the absence of Lance McCullers for all of 2019 due to a torn UCL should lead the Astros to prioritize their rotation this winter.
Houston would have to shape its offer completely around prospects, so right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas - who was reportedly part of a potential Bryce Harper trade that fell apart last season - makes some sense. Drafted with the 15th overall pick in 2017, Bukauskas is a legitimate piece despite having his 2018 campaign derailed by a bulging disk in his back.
Valdez and Straw are likely ready to compete for a major-league job out of spring training. Valdez, a left-handed pitcher, posted a 2.19 ERA over 37 innings with the Astros last season in a swingman role. Straw, an outfieler, appeared in nine games down the stretch. He hit one homer and stole two bases, earning a spot on the ALDS roster.
Atlanta Braves
To SF: P Ian Anderson, OF Travis Demeritte
After winning fewer games than any other playoff team in 2018, the improving Braves should be motivated to add elite talent. MadBum not only fits that bill, but would be on the same timeline as veteran Josh Donaldson, who inked a one-year deal with Atlanta earlier this offseason.
The 20-year-old Anderson is likely the best prospect in any package on this list. He was selected third overall in the 2016 draft and made it to Double-A in 2018 after posting a 2.52 ERA and 2.64 FIP across 100 innings with High-A Florida.
Should the Braves trade a player of Anderson's pedigree, the rest of their offer would likely consist of a lower-level prospect such as Demeritte. Originally a second baseman, Demeritte transitioned to the outfield in 2018. He spent the entire year in Double-A, but might be ready for the majors this season.
Milwaukee Brewers
To SF: P Freddy Peralta, OF Domingo Santana, P Justin Jarvis
If there's a contender that desperately needs starting pitching, it's probably the Brewers, though a rental may not suit their needs perfectly. They also have the farm system and spare parts to make a play for Noah Syndergaard or Corey Kluber, but Bumgarner should cost less and would be a great consolation prize.
In this proposed package, the Giants would receive a young pitcher with MLB experience (Peralta), an established major-league outfielder with upside (Santana), and an 18-year-old arm with potential (Jarvis). Perhaps most importantly, the Brewers could afford to make this deal without losing too much from their current roster, as Santana was relegated to the minors in 2018 due to a crowded outfield in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Peralta posted a 4.25 ERA and 3.72 FIP over 78 1/3 innings as a rookie with the Brewers last season. His strikeout rate of nearly 30 percent is intriguing, although his 12.5 percent walk rate must improve. Jarvis has logged only 19 professional innings since being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.
Boston Red Sox
To SF: P Eduardo Rodriguez, 3B Michael Chavis, P Jay Groome, C Blake Swihart
Coming off of a World Series win, the Red Sox don't necessarily need to do anything. However, the potential losses of Nathan Eovaldi and Craig Kimbrel to free agency could set them back, particularly with the Yankees making a push.
And, while adding another left-hander to the rotation might not be the most ideal option, Boston does have the pieces to make a trade happen. Even further, Bumgarner - who already owns an impressive World Series resume - would be a great contingency plan to re-sign if the Red Sox lose Chris Sale in free agency next winter.
It should be no surprise that Boston's farm system is barren, as Dave Dombrowski loves shipping off prospects in pursuit of pennants. But, if you squint, this isn't an awful offer. The 25-year-old Rodriguez has three years of arbitration remaining and has shown flashes of brilliance, but he's also maxed out at 137 1/3 innings in a single season due to injuries.
Meanwhile, both Chavis and Groome are intriguing prospects who've gone through trying times in the minors. Chavis was handed an 80-game suspension for PEDs and needs to improve his plate discipline. Groome was pegged as a potential first overall selection in 2016, but fell to the Red Sox at No. 12 and then largely struggled before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May.
Finally, let's throw in Blake Swihart, whom the Red Sox seem intent on dealing. He could serve as a versatile NL player with upside.