MLB trade rumors: Giants’ Madison Bumgarner still looming as possible Yankees target?

The Yankees need a top-of-the-rotation arm and Giants ace Madison Bumgarner continues to come up in rumors as the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has also been linked to Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers southpaw Cole Hamels, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ and Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

For the Yankees, the next few weeks look to be about one thing: Acquiring a top-shelf arm to boost a starting rotation that has major question marks behind American League All-Star Luis Severino.

With possible trade candidates like J.A. Happ (shelled by the Yankees on Saturday), Cole Hamels (5.14 FIP), Michael Fulmer (4.22 ERA), Chris Archer (returning from injury on Monday) and Blake Snell (huge trade cost) all coming with concern, an outside-the-box idea might be needed to take the Yankees from contender to favorite in the American League.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com thinks a gigantic offer for Giants ace Madison Bumgarner could be the route for the Yankees to take. Of course, Bumgarner to the Yankees ideas have been out there for months–but the deadline could spur action now.

Cashman has built up the Yankees’ system so well, he has more than enough prospects to deal for Bumgarner without depleting it entirely. New York could put together a two- or three-player package led by the likes of Miguel Andujar, Justus Sheffield, Estevan Florial or Clint Frazier, supplementing it with some mid-level prospects that would crack another team’s top 5.

Bumgarner is under control through 2019, giving him plenty of time to experience life with the Yankees before he would hit free agency. This winter’s free-agent class doesn’t have a starter as good as Bumgarner, so a trade is the only avenue for the Yankees to land an elite arm of this caliber.

It’s hard to imagine the Giants trading Bumgarner and punting on a season. But if the Yankees came in with an offer of Andujar, Sheffield and either Frazier or Florial, it’s even harder to imagine San Francisco hanging up the phone.

Bumgarner to Yanks?

Bumgarner, 28, owns a 3.09 ERA in seven starts this season. The lefty has pitched to a 3.01 ERA across 1552.1 innings since debuting in the big leagues in 2010. His body of work includes three World Series titles and a 2.11 postseason ERA.

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