The good and bad of Madison Bumgarner joining the Colorado Rockies

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 06: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants is looked at by head athletic trainer Dave Groeschnerat and manager Bruce Bochy after he was hit by a line drive hit by Jose Martinez #38 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the first inning Oracle Park on July 06, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

One last concern with Bumgarner is his health. He hasn’t pitched 30 games since 2016 and only reached 20 once (21 in 2018). While Bumgarner has managed to pitch in 19 games already this season, he did leave his last start with a left elbow injury, leaving a lot of question marks surrounding the rest of his season as well as his trade value.

Whether impacted by his health or not, Bumgarner’s production has dipped in recent years. He posted four consecutive seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA from 2013-2016, concluding with a career-low 2.74 in 2016. Since then, he has posted ERAs of 3.32 in 2017, 3.26 in 2018, and 4.03 so far in 2019.

Additionally, from 2014-2016, Bumgarner posted three consecutive seasons with four complete games, totaling 12 over that span including five shutouts. Since then he has totaled just one complete game (in 2017) and no shutouts over the last three seasons.

Could a change of scenery to a younger team in the midst of a playoff hunt trigger a mini-revival for Bumgarner? Absolutely. Just look at the Justin Verlander trade to the Houston Astros in 2017.

Bumgarner is only 29 and has plenty of baseball ahead of him. However, the Rockies will have to ask themselves if he is worth the risk and the price tag he comes with.

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