Odds Say Giants Won’t Trade Madison Bumgarner by 2019 MLB Trade Deadline

• Madison Bumgarner has pitched with the Giants since 2009
• He is a pending free agent making only $12 million this season
• The Giants are projected to finish well behind the top teams in the NL West

Madison Bumgarner is set to be the ace of the San Francisco Giants rotation again in 2019 but the question is for how long? Rumors have been swirling around the 29-year-old for years, and sportsbooks are now offering a futures bet for you to take a side.

Will Madison Bumgarner Be Traded Before July 31st?

*Odds taken 03/15/19

There is major value to be had here betting that Bumgarner will in fact finally be dealt by the Giants. Why? Here are the three biggest reasons.

From last night, #SFGiants' Madison Bumgarner shows regular-season form, on the mound and at the plate https://t.co/EcMw2ACEA3

— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) March 13, 2019

1. The Giants Playoff Hopes are Slim

The Giants finished 18.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers and 17.5 games back of the Colorado Rockies in the NL West last year. Both of those teams improved while San Francisco is likely headed for a similar finish. There’s little reason for a team that far out of contention to hold on to what might be their best asset.

If, in fact, the Giants are rebuilding, some young prospects coming their way in a lost season could be a good enough sales pitch to the fans to justify the move.

From the Minor League Facility in Scottsdale. Willie Mays is talking, you could hear a pin drop.#ForeverGiant | #SFGSpring pic.twitter.com/XTYEuwsNLi

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) March 15, 2019

2. Bumgarner Contract Attractive to Other Teams

Bumgarner is in the final year of his deal and will make only $12 million in 2019. It’s amazing that for how great Bumgarner was for how long he was, he never really got to cash in. With a good performance this year he may be able to cash in on the free agent market, but it’s looking less and less likely that offer is coming from the Giants organization.

Busts 2.0 are here to warn of the dangers of drafting Mike Moustakas, Kenley Jansen, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Carpenter. https://t.co/wPpksf1McK

— Scott White (@CBSScottWhite) March 8, 2019

The last two seasons Bumgarner has been limited due to injury.  He suffered a fractured hand last year and a Grade 2 Sprain in his AC Joint back in 2017. Those injuries are most of the cause for concern. While they may stop a team from offering big bucks and big term on a future deal, it really wouldn’t stop a contending team from acquiring his services in hopes of winning this years World Series.

Bumgarner is a proven playoff performer and could bolster any staff. And at only $12 million, he’d fit any team’s budget.

3. Will Bumgarner Bounce Back in 2019?

Bumgarner looked less like his dominant self in 2018, tossing 129.2 innings and finishing the year 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.  Good numbers, but hardly dominant ones.

Bumgarner looked less like his dominant self in 2018, tossing 129.2 innings and finishing the year 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.

These numbers are important for two reasons – one they’ll justify the Giants opting to trade him as opposed to re-sign him and two it’ll help bring the cost to a reasonable level for other clubs. Bumgarner at his peak would have eliminated many suitors due to the asking price and while it’ll still be high, it should fall into a spot teams are more comfortable with.

Not only do all signs point to Bumgarner wearing a different ball cap at some point this season, but the folks in one sportsbook are offering you +200 to side with “Yes” giving you all the value you need to jump on this as soon as possible.

Pick: Yes (+200)