The Arizona Diamondbacks assigned Madison Bumgarner to assignment Thursday after another poor start.
The decision leaves the four-time ‘All-Star’ out of the 40-player roster. Arizona will have seven days to trade the 2014 World Series MVP or put him on the transfer list.
The Diamondbacks announced the decision the day after the Bumgarner gave up seven runs in three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The lefty hasn’t lived up to expectations in the desert after signing a five-year, $85 million contract in 2020. A postseason hero with San Francisco, Bumgarner is 15-32 with a 5.23 ERA in 69 starts, and was having his worst season with Arizona.
The 33-year-old has allowed at least five runs in three of his four starts and went 1-3 with a 10.26 ERA after his most recent fiasco in St. Louis.
“I wish I had some kind of answer,” Bumgarner said after Wednesday’s game. “It’s not that I’m not looking for them. But right now I can’t give you anything. I would like to. But I can not”.
Bumgarner is owed $34.4 million for what’s left on his contract, including $20.4 million this season. If he passes the transfer list process, he will be free to sign with any team for a prorated amount of $720,000.
Bumgarner was one of the best pitchers during 11 seasons with the Giants, being key to winning three World Series championships. He was a workhorse for San Francisco, going all 200 innings seven times, plus 16 postseason appearances that included a memorable five-inning save in Game 7 of the 2014 Fall Classic against Kansas City.