The San Francisco Giants possess one of the most coveted assets of this trading season in ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner, and are already said to be speaking with interested teams.
However, Giants president Farhan Zaidi seems determined to only move Bumgarner on his terms, and has told interested parties that he won't trade the pitcher if his asking price is not met, industry sources told Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
Zaidi "made it clear the Giants will not treat Bumgarner as a yard-sale item that must be cleared off the driveway before moving day," Baggarly wrote.
If no team presents an offer that satisfies Zaidi, the Giants can hold onto Bumgarner, a pending free agent, for the balance of this season. They can then make him a qualifying offer, which - assuming he declines it - would entitle the Giants to draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.
Bumgarner is expected to be among the biggest names, if not the biggest name, moved in advance of the July 31 trade deadline. The New York Yankees, who have significant holes in their rotation and failed to sign Dallas Keuchel last week, are among the teams that have spoken to the Giants about the former World Series MVP, according to Baggarly.
However, it was reported over the weekend that New York - despite apparently already scouting some of Bumgarner's starts - might not be willing to meet the Giants' asking price, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Bumgarner, who turns 30 in August, owns a 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while averaging 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings through 14 starts this year.
