Phillies rumors: Club linked to Madison Bumgarner trade talks

Some more Phillies rumors are linking them to a big starting pitcher

The latest Phillies rumors come from Jon Morosi of MLB.com, who says the San Francisco Giants are open to trade ace Madison Bumgarner, according to his sources.

Morosi says the Phillies, among other teams, have had preliminary talks with the Giants regarding the 29-year-old lefty now that new Giants’ president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is in place.

The Phillies make a lot of sense in the Bumgarner rumors because of their need for a left-handed pitcher who can solidify a solid top-three with Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta.

Bumgarner will cost a lot despite being in the final year of his contract and having just 38 starts in his last two seasons for San Francisco due to injury.

Bumgarner had three consecutive years with four complete games, a stat that feels obsolete in baseball with the heavy use of bullpens.

Morosi notes a lack of pitching depth in the Giants system and that the Phillies would likely have to give up at least one of their top pitching prospects, either Sixto Sanchez or Adonis Medina.

Zach Eflin was mentioned in a potential trade for Paul Goldschmidt, according to Jayson Stark, suggesting the Phillies are ready to move on from the arm they got in the Jimmy Rollins trade back in 2014.