MLB rumors: Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt, Giants’ Madison Bumgarner to Yankees? Here’s how much they will cost in 2019

MLB teams can begin signing free agents on Saturday, November 3, 2018 (11/3/18). Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper headline the free agent class. But Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner are attactive options on the trade market.

The MLB hot stove heats up Saturday, when free agents can begin signing contracts for 2019 and beyond.

All eyes will be on sluggers Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, both of whom will command contracts in excess of $300 million.

While Yankees general manager Brian Cashman ponders how big of a splash he wants to make in free agency, he also has a couple of cost-controlled options to consider on the trade market.

The Arizona Diamondbacks picked up their 2019 option on first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, per MLB.com:

The D-backs picked up Paul Goldschmidt’s contract option for the 2019 season on Monday, guaranteeing the first baseman $14.5 million next season, his final one before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career.

The choice was an easy one for the D-backs to make, but the decisions regarding Goldschmidt get much harder from here on out.

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For the first time since he became a regular in the big leagues, the D-backs have declined to say that they would not listen to trade offers for him this offseason.

With left-hander Patrick Corbin and outfielder A.J. Pollock expected to depart via free agency and coming off a disappointing September collapse, the D-backs could look to get younger next year as part of a rebuilding or retooling effort.

General manager Mike Hazen said the team wanted to gauge the markets — both free agent and trade — before making a decision on their direction.

MLB power rankings, 2019 World Series odds

The 31-year-old Goldschmidt has hit at least 30 home runs in three of the last four seasons. He’s also hit at least .290 in each of the last six seasons.

The San Francisco Giants exercised their 2019 contract option on left-hander Madison Bumgarner, per MLB.com:

The Giants observed the first true day of the Major League offseason with predictable moves: exercising options on the 2019 contracts of  Maidson Bumgarner and Pablo Sandoval.

Bumgarner, San Francisco’s ace, has pitched under the terms of a club-friendly deal that will pay him $12 million in 2019. That’s the final season of a five-year, $35 million extension he signed in April 2012.

Bumgarner’s contract status already has generated considerable speculation. The Giants must decide whether to retain the left-hander for the entire 2019 campaign or trade him and lose the Draft-pick compensation they’d receive if he signed with another team as a free agent after finishing ’19 with the Giants.

The 29-year-old Bumgarner has made only 38 starts over the last two seasons because of injuries. But he one of the best big-game pitchers in the majors, helping the Giants win three World Series titles. In 16 career postseason appearances, he’s 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.