By Alex Al-Kazzaz
Veteran pitcher Madison Bumgarner has been designated for assignment. In response, the Arizona Diamondbacks have called up Anthony Misiewicz from AAA Reno. Bumgarner,33, is 0-3 this season with an ERA of 10.26! He is owed over $30 million in salary from the Diamondbacks.
Bumgarner arrived in Arizona in 2020 when he was signed to a five-year, $85 million deal. He was with the San Francisco Giants from 2009 to 2019 where he won three World Series and was a four-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award recipient. In addition, he was the World Series MVP in 2014 as well as the NLCS MVP that same year.
Unfortunately, his tenure in Arizona didn't go well. An overall record of 15-33 and with no winning record in each of his season with the Diamondbacks. Despite the unconvincing stint in Arizona, there's sure to be a few opportunities out there for him. Once Bumgarner clears waivers, he'll be free to sign wherever for the league minimum of $720,000.
At this point, it's unclear where Bumgarner could go to next. The New York Mets certainly come to mind especially considering the recent drama involving Max Scherzer. A return to San Francisco has been regarded as a bad idea, but perhaps he could finish his career where it started. A reunion with his former manager Bruce Bochy who's now managing the Texas Rangers? That's merely a pipe dream. The Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox are apparently in the mix. Apparently, the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals are considered a potential landing spot for Bumgarner too.
It's quite clear that Bumgarner is not the pitcher he used to be. Despite being only 33, he's been in the majors for a very long time. The question is how much does he have left? Many would insist that based on how things went in Arizona, he may have very little to nothing left. However, perhaps a fresh start with a new team is his chance to prove that he's not done yet. Regardless, either way, he's a future Hall of Famer and all the accomplishments in his illustrious career can't be ignored.