San Francisco Giants: If Madison Bumgarner Goes, So Does 2019

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

It sounds like the San Francisco Giants are listening to offers for Madison Bumgarner, which could signal a rebuild for 2019.

The San Francisco Giants have yet to make it clear what their intentions are for 2019, but if they are willing to trade Madison Bumgarner you would have to think they don’t plan to compete next season.

You don’t trade the best player on your team and a top 15 starting pitcher in the entire game if you plan on competing in 2019.

For me, this could be the first sign that the Giants are looking to begin a soft rebuild for the future.

The San Francisco Giants haven’t done much since Farhan Zaidi took over as head of baseball operations.

Trading Bumgarner as his first act of business wouldn’t be the best way to get the fan base on his side.

However, if a rebuild is what the front office wants, it makes all the sense in the world to trade Bumgarner.

The lefty would quickly become one of the best pitching options on the market. And the return you could potentially get for him would help turn around a terrible farm system.

I detailed what a potential trade of Madison Bumgarner would look like a few weeks back.

Related Story. San Francisco Giants: Potential Madison Bumgarner Trade with Atlanta Braves

It sounds as if the Phillies and Braves have both shown interest.

I still believe the Giants could get a top 30 prospect in all of baseball, and possibly two top 100 players.

That’s the type of deal the San Francisco Giants desperately need to turn things around for the future.

They had some high draft picks in 2018 and are set up for another top 10 draft pick in 2019, which should help continue the rebuild of the farm system.

The game is changing, and the days of retooling through free agency are essentially over. You have to build a contender through smart trades and drafting, which is what the San Francisco Giants did to build their dynasty from 2010-2014.

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Now whether or not you think this is the right move for the San Francisco Giants, that’s up to you. But I will tell you, if the Giants are shopping Bumgarner, that signals to me that 2019 won’t be pretty for the orange and black.