Phillies trade rumors: Four rental options at the trade deadline
Madison Bumgarner
The big fish during this summer’s trade deadline and in Phillies trade rumors will be the three-time World Series champion ace Madison Bumgarner.
From 2011-16 Bumgarner put on spectacular performances and cemented himself in playoff history. His career 2.11 ERA in the postseason is remarkable and the dominance he displayed in the 2014 playoffs for San Francisco is something fans might never see again.
Bumgarner has listed the Phillies on his eight-team no-trade list, which includes the Yankees, Cardinals, Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Astros, and Brewers. All of those teams are considered playoff and championship contenders, but this list gives Bumgarner some control over where he ends up should San Francisco look to move him.
The chances Philadelphia adds someone like Bumgarner hangs on whether Jerad Eickhoff, Zach Eflin, Nick Pivetta, Vince Velasquez, and now Cole Irvin step up over the next month.
If a piece of the rotation falters the Phillies will face a lot of pressure to add another top of the rotation arm. Bumgarner could be the most expensive option out there despite a 4.21 ERA in 10 starts this year. If his struggles continue the Phillies could go another way or hope he rebounds similar to Justin Verlander after his trade to Houston.
Verlander was much older and had a longer stretch of success prior to the Tigers trading him, so it’s not a perfect comparison, but the scenario of going worst to first could rejuvenate Bumgarner, who turns 30-years-old after the trade deadline.
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Phillies trade rumors should be hot going into the trade deadline, but if they want a short-term answer to the rotation, Bumgarner could be it.