Now that free agent starter Zack Wheeler has signed, the entire pitching market looks set to take off.
The next domino to fall could be Madison Bumgarner. The free agent left-hander has two major suitors in AL Central rivals Minnesota and Chicago, according to Andy Martino of SNY.
In the wake of Wheeler signing with Phillies and Hamels signing with Braves, Bumgarner market is clarifying. Per sources, White Sox and Twins among heaviest suitors there. Yankees involved to some degree.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) December 4, 2019
Both the Twins and White Sox are eager to upgrade their rotations, so it’s no surprise that they’re aggressively chasing Bumgarner. Both teams were in on the Wheeler sweepstakes, with Chicago actually making the highest known offer there. It’s not clear what the asking price is financially for Bumgarner, but it’s probably not that dissimilar from what Wheeler was asking. Given that both teams were willing to pay up there, they likely won’t back down when it comes to Bumgarner.
Bumgarner is still only 30 and should have several good years left. That said, his 3.90 ERA for the San Francisco Giants in 2019 was a career worst.
