Featured Columnist IVApril 20, 2023
The Arizona Diamondbacks have designated starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner for assignment, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Arizona has seven days to either find a trade for the left-hander or see him claimed off waivers by another team. Should he clear waivers, the Diamondbacks can release him outright or send him to the minors.
Bumgarner has $34 million total remaining on his current contract, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
This will bring an end to the four-time All-Star's underwhelming run in Arizona. Over four years, he's 15-32 with a 5.23 ERA, 5.18 FIP and an 80 ERA+, according to Baseball Reference.
Bumgarner has endured a brutal start to the 2023 season, and it quickly became apparent his time with the Diamondbacks was winding down. There wasn't much sense in waiting around to release him because the remainder of his original five-year, $85 million deal was bound to be a sunk cost one way or the other.
Assuming he finds his way to free agency, the 33-year-old will be able to sign with another team for the league minimum ($720,000). Even then, he may not have a robust market.
In 16.2 innings, Bumgarner has allowed 19 earned runs and 15 walks. His most recent start saw him surrender seven earned runs over three innings of work in a 14-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
The southpaw might be a three-time World Series champion and the 2014 World Series MVP, but his best days look firmly behind him. According to Baseball Savant, he allowed an expected batting average of .276 and an expected slugging percentage of .488 last year, both ranking in the bottom seven percent.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, plan to have Tommy Henry take Bumgarner's place in the starting rotation, per Piecoro.
Henry went 3-4 with a 5.36 ERA and 5.88 FIP in nine MLB starts in 2022. The right-hander has started four games for the Triple-A Reno Aces and sports a 6.33 ERA so far.
