Phillies rumors: Four left-handed starters to target this offseason

Madison Bumgarner – Trade

Many consider the Maddison Bumgarner rumors to be dead, but Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com stirred the pot on Tuesday afternoon saying the trade market for Bumgarner is coming into focus.

What he means by that exactly I’m not sure, but he says the Phillies have spoken to San Francisco about a potential deal.

Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia can talk to the Giants all they want about a Bumgarner trade, but that doesn’t mean the Giants are pushing to trade him.

Jon Heyman of Fancred and MLB Network said on Nov. 30 that a Giants source told him they “Don’t see (Bumgarner) going anywhere.”

That could change with an aggressive package of players offered up by the Phillies, but it seems the Giants new front office isn’t keen on moving their ace.

The 29-year-old is in the final year of his deal worth $12 million, a bargain if he’s healthy. After six consecutive seasons with at least 30 regular season starts Bumgarner hasn’t made more than 21 in his last two years.

Is he starting to wear down after all of those starts and postseason appearances?

That’s something that will concern executives across baseball. If a team gives up major prospects for any player on a one-year deal, they have to feel confident in being able to re-sign that player long-term.

Bumgarner would be an upgrade for the Phillies at any price, but it’ll cost several prospects and perhaps a major league player or two. One of the young starting pitchers who would lose a job to Bumgarner in Philadelphia could get a fresh start in San Francisco, and Nick Williams might need a new job if the Phillies acquire multiple outfielders this offseason.

Prospect Adonis Medina is another name to watch in trade talks going forward after his name surfaced in several reports recently.