A potential trade involving the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves involving veteran pitcher Madison Bumgarner is certainly not new speculation. I have even expressed my interest as a Braves fan for the ballclub to acquire the World Series MVP. But as the trade deadline creeps closer and closer, the Braves making a trade for Bumgarner seems to make more and more sense.

Let’s start with the latest news involving Atlanta’s rotation. Earlier today, Mike Foltynewicz was optioned to Triple-A and will most likely be there at least 3-4 weeks. Foltynewicz has been struggling mightily this season since injuring his elbow in Spring Training and making a late season-debut. Over the course of 11 starts this season, he has racked up a 6.37 ERA and gave up 16 home runs. Last night he gave up 8 runs in 4 innings against the Nationals. The Braves are sending him down to clear his head and give him time to try to regain his 2018 All-Star form. Whether he regains that form is up for question, but the void he’s making available certainly needs to be filled.

Kevin Gausman, the Braves 2018 mid-season acquisition, has had a rough year as well. Throughout his 13 starts on the season, he’s posted a 6.21 ERA with opponents hitting .285 against him. He has good stuff, as we’ve seen with him in a Braves uniform, but the question of “When will we see it again?” is too big to not address. Rookie Max Fried, who I really like, has been struggling lately as well with a 6.49 ERA in his past five starts. Now, as a young pitcher in this game, you expect periods of struggles such as this one, but if you’re the Braves you also have to weather the storm since you lead the division and look to make a deep playoff run.

With Sean Newcomb seemingly settling into his bullpen role (which he’s been thriving in), that leaves a rotation of Mike Soroka, Julio Teheran, Dallas Keuchel, Max Fried, and Kevin Gausman. If the Braves can maintain their success and reach the playoffs, that’s not a rotation that’s going to scare anybody. Now, Gausman would be relegated to the bullpen in the playoffs, and most likely Fried as well. The jury’s still out on Foltynewicz. Though Julio has been great lately, everyone knows he can be extremely inconsistent. Soroka has been great, but you can’t lean too heavily on a rookie in the playoffs. And Keuchel you wouldn’t worry about as much. But is that a rotation you feel really good about taking into the NLDS or potentially the NLCS? The answer is no.

Now throw in Madison Bumgarner, who is among the most successful postseason pitchers in baseball history. His experience and success on the biggest of stages is his most coveted trait to teams right now. Sure, he will probably never be as dominant as he once was (his numbers have been dropping), but he’s still only 29 years old. He’s got a lot left in the tank and a change of scenery for him would probably boost his numbers back closer to where we’re used to seeing them. But any team that ends up with him would feel very confident throwing him out there in Game 1 of a playoff series.

The Atlanta Braves are a good team. Their lineup is a dangerous one and their pitching has been good enough. I like their chances of reaching the playoffs this year, but if they want to break the streak of losing in the divisional series, they will have to go out and make some moves. That’s what good teams do when they are in position to make a run at the World Series. And acquiring a proven talent and postseason ace in Bumgarner is one I think they need to start with.

Garett

A Bumgarner to Braves Trade Making More and More Sense