Bumgarner from Giant Hero to Adversary
The Giants Ace agrees to a five-year, $85 million deal with the D-backs.
FILE – Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitching during the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals on October 29, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Ben Margot – Pool/Getty Images)
2019.12.17 – The president of the San Francisco Giants Farhan Zaidi, said last week, when asked about the blow-back that would be unleashed the moment Madison Bumgarner goes from giant hero to adversary. “I think our fans want a winner,” Zaidi said, “That’s our goal: To get back to having a winning team. And when you have a winning team, there are going to be players for fans to get behind.”
In other words ‘Rebuilt’, Zaidi and his front office knew this was coming. The Giants knew their most popular player, an unrivaled World Series hero, was about to leave, and a frustrating fanbase is about to explode. The Giants front office had just seen — and survived — the backlash over allowing Kevin Pillar to become a free agent. Now are the Giants ready for what’s coming next?
Bumgarner and the Giants will not have a 12th year of marriage, no glimmer of a fourth World Series title with the postseason icon winning. The 30-year-old is no longer a Giant and no longer a free agent, agreeing to a reported five-year, $85 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The gun-slinging cowboy, as you might know, is not one for theatrics. You hit a home run, you round the bases with your head down. You don’t elevate yourself above the game. Which made his final moment with the Giants — that at-bat against Clayton Kershaw, the helmet tip to a standing crowd, jetting out of Oracle Park before he could answer questions about that farewell — feel especially poignant. Even if the Giants matched the $85 million, you wonder if Bumgarner would have returned.
RELATED: 2014.10.29 – San Francisco Giants 2014 World Series Champion (Video)
RELATED: 2014.10.29 – San Francisco Giants 2014 World Series Champion (Video)
By April 2012, Bumgarner had more than 300 MLB innings under his belt when he agreed to a five year, $35 million extension with club options for 2018 and 2019. The deal gave Bumgarner and his family much-desired financial security, but it eventually became one of the most team-friendly contracts in franchise history.
As other teammates signed extensions for double the money and the Giants’ front office set aside hundreds of millions for free agent additions, Bumgarner’s original extension was never torn up in favor of a fairer deal.
Bumgarner hasn’t discussed his contract with the Giants publicly, but the 2019 off-season was not the first opportunity the franchise had to ensure he would remain with the organization at least into his mid-30s. The Giants had obvious chances to broach the subject after his masterful 2014 World Series efforts and again following his heroic complete game in the 2016 NL wild-card game
Giants president of baseball operations Zaidi said during the Winter Meetings that San Francisco was engaged with Bumgarner’s agent, Ed Cerulo, about a possible reunion, but the Giants were not among the teams that outbid Arizona for his services.
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San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner during a baseball game between the Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)
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Even if the Giants were willing to exceed the D-backs offer, which includes $15 million of deferred money to be paid out after 2024, it’s uncertain whether Bumgarner would have passed up the chance to sign elsewhere.
Bumgarner said Tuesday his desire to play in Arizona exceeded his desire to return to San Francisco.
When pressed for a reason, Bumgarner said he would be willing to explain the circumstances in spring training, but he owed it to the D-backs to show his excitement about moving forward on day one with the organization.
“That’s one of the things we’re going to have to answer in the spring,” Bumgarner said. “But I will answer it.”
How did the Giants, the only team Bumgarner had ever played for, fall out of favor?
It’s a complex question, but one that will be explored for years to come, regardless of how the pitcher performs in his new home over the next half-decade.
The plan is not to infuriate you, the Giants fan-base, even if it sure feels like that. The plan is to find more Mike Yastrzemskis and Mauricio Dubons, more young players who grow on you rather than the ones to whom you’re already attached.
2015.04.13 – The Giants raise their 2014 World Series flag (Video)
2015.04.13 – The Giants raise their 2014 World Series flag (Video)
There will be time to give Bumgarner a more formal goodbye. For now as a matter of fact, he’ll be coming to town sooner than you think, April 6-9, and might pitch against the Giants in Arizona two series prior.
San Francisco fans will be in the awkward position of rooting against a battery of Bumgarner-Stephen Vogt. The Giants Kevin Gausman-Aramis Garcia will have their hands full.
The Giants fan-base feels there will be time to further unload on Zaidi, there will be time to stay away from the Giants, who won’t be putting forth a winning team or too much of a nostalgic team. The rebuild – a word the current regime feels is loaded and will not use – is here nonetheless.
The president of the San Francisco Giants knew this day was coming, and he did not shift his eyes. The Giants have a new face, and his name is Farhan Zaidi.
2019.12.17 –
Related: Bumgarner’s teammates ‘ticked off’ after seeing contract with D-backs
Newly acquired Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner, center, holds his new jersey with general manager Mike Hazen, right, and manager Tory Lovullo during a team availability, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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