Bumgarner signs with Arizona; 5-years, $85M / Rangers get Kluber

[Auggie]

The team has reached agreement with free agent left-hander Madison Bumgarner on a five-year contract, a baseball source confirmed, and the deal is worth $85 million, with $15 million deferred, according to another source.

Bumgarner, 30, was the highest-profile free-agent starter remaining on the market after the signings of fellow free agents Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Zack Wheeler. The Giants, Bumgarner's longtime organization, will receive a compensation pick after Competitive Balance Round B in next June's MLB Draft, since Bumgarner declined their one-year, $17.8 million qualifying offer in November. In turn, the D-backs will surrender their second-round pick.

The acquisition of Bumgarner would seem to make it more likely that the D-backs will deal left-hander Robbie Ray this winter.

If Ray is dealt, Bumgarner would head a rotation that will also include Luke Weaver, Mike Leake, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

MORE: https://www.mlb.com/breaking-news/madison-bumgarner-deal-arizona-diamondbacks

The Rangers have acquired a proven No. 1 starter for their starting rotation.

They just need right-hander Corey Kluber to be fully recovered from a broken right forearm and strained oblique muscle that sidelined him for most of 2019. If so, the two-time Cy Young Award winner could fit at the top of the Rangers rotation for at least the next two seasons.

Kluber, who took home the Cy Young Award in 2014 and '17 and won 20 games in '18, was acquired from the Indians on Sunday for outfielder Delino DeShields and reliever Emmanuel Clase. The Rangers have never had a Cy Young winner in club history and their last 20-game winner was Rick Helling in 1998.

Kluber joins a Rangers rotation that already has Mike Minor and Lance Lynn at the top and Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles at the back end.

MORE: https://www.mlb.com/breaking-news/corey-kluber-trade

Sunday's double gut punch. Expected -- both players have their prime years behind them -- but still sad.

[Ohiogal]

1. I sort of expected we'd lose either Kluber or Lindor....

But it still ain't easy to accept.

[Auggie]

2. Yeah. But if any team could afford to lose an ace, it's Cleveland

Last edited Mon Dec 16, 2019, 09:27 AM - Edit history (1)

We still have a formidable starting rotation - one of the best in baseball. It doesn’t seem like we got enough for Kluber though. We’ll have to see if the instructional staff continues working their miracles - or if these or any other players are traded away.

[Ohiogal]

3. I suppose you're right.

And I agree it doesn’t seem like we got enough for him.

DeShields is a CF. So how does he fit in with Naquin (who had a very impressive year at bat and in the field last season till he rammed into the wall and hurt his knee). and Mercado?

[Auggie]

4. Great question

Another trade could be in works. Cleveland needs someone to play second or third, depending where Ramirez ends up. Jury is still out on minor league infielder Christian Arroyo — need a back-up.

I’m waiting to see what happens with OF Bradley Zimmer as well. Guy showed some great potential in years past.

[Ohiogal]

5. Oh, yes.

All of a sudden we have a whole host of center fielders. Zim needs to prove his bat, his fielding is gold glove worthy.

Will be interesting to see how the infield plays out. I agree, another trade maybe is in the works ....

[jcmaine72]

6. Compared to some of the other contracts this winter....

This deal seems like a steal. Bumgarner is better than Zack Wheeler, and now much cheaper.

[Auggie]

7. That's because Bumgarner took less money to play in Arizona

He loves it there:

“I’ve been coming out here since 2007,” he said. “I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time here. It’s a beautiful place. For me, it just feels like where I’m supposed to be. I’ve got a lot of friends out here now. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of people. It actually is a second home to me.”

The real reason?

“First and foremost, winning, that’s what the whole decision’s based on,” Bumgarner said, “and being with a team that, in my mind, plays my brand of baseball, plays the way I like to play. First off, they have a really good team, and a lot of young guys coming up. They’re definitely heading in a really good direction. They play hard. I would say they’ve got a bunch of grinders on this team, guys who don’t take any pitch off. They’re just a hard-nosed group of guys.”

https://www.mlb.com/news/madison-bumgarner-eyed-d-backs-from-start

Bumgarner's not your usual dude. And you gotta like a guy who makes a decision on more than just money. That $85 million, on top of what he's already earned, is more than enough for anybody.