The San Francisco Giants came alive before the All-Star break and have carried the momentum into the second half of the season, and suddenly they have found themselves in the playoff hunt. While his name has frequently been mentioned in trade rumors, Madison Bumgarner sounds like he wants to see it through.
Bumgarner allowed just five hits and one run in nine innings on Thursday night, and the Giants beat the New York Mets 3-2 in a 16-inning game. The win was San Francisco’s sixth in a row and 12th in their last 14. When asked about the trade rumors after the game, Bumgarner sent a clear message.
Bumgarner on trade deadline: "I don't give a s***. I'm here to win games for this team."
Added: "We're trying to get to the postseason. We're making a push and we're coming."
— Matt Ehalt (@MattEhalt) July 19, 2019
Bumgarner said the Giants have flipped the switch and added “if we manage to keep this going and sneak in (to the playoffs) I don’t think anybody will want to match up with us.” That was the postgame interview of a man who doesn’t want to get traded.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 19, 2019
There have been reports of several contenders being interested in trading for Bumgarner, but the left-hander can block a trade to eight teams. While the Giants are not going to catch the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, they are now just 2.5 games out of a wild card spot. The playoffs are a legitimate possibility.
Bumgarner has spent his entire career in San Francisco and helped the Giants win three championships, so you can understand why he might not want to leave. With the team now creeping back into contention, there will be even tougher decisions to make at the trade deadline.
