What Version of Madison Bumgarner Would the Twins Be Getting?

On paper he may not seem like an upgrade over Gibson and Pineda, but the games aren't played on paper. He has the post-season experience and obviously still the drive and fire; however, playing on a mediocre team has hurt his value. Getting a pitcher of his stature would enable Perez to give us another lefty in the bullpen. I wouldn't overspend on him and would like an extension of a couple years, but he would be a good start (good RPs would be an even better start) to improve our pitching. We have the prospects. Don't panic and make bad trades, but we do have to improve our pen.

I wonder if Madbum couldn't be an effective reliever...

Maybe the Twins need a guy like Bumgarner but I’m so fixated on the bullpen that I don’t really care about anything else.

Bumgarner as a starter could free up Perez for the BP.  The question is of course would Perez be an improvement to the BP?

I agree with Brock. The bullpen really needs another high quality arm.

I wonder if Madbum couldn't be an effective reliever...

Considering his reaction to pitching behind an opener at the beginning of the season I don''t think he would be.

Personally I'm out on MadBum as a top option.  I saw one report that the Giants asking price would be pretty high.  If that's the case I would rather see the Twins go after a starter with team control next year to have one more rotation piece locked up.  If they add another starter I could see using Pineda and Perez in a piggy back role again.  Still need another bullpen arm or two after that also.

he could pinch hit for sano.

Can we all agree that getting Bumgarner would be worth it just for the clubhouse celebration/beer drinking after the Twins win the World Series?

Since the start of 2017, Bumgarner has basically been a 3rd or 4th starter who has missed a number of games due to injuries. Factor in he's a rental and there is no way I'd pay a significant price to acquire him. If the Twins can get him with a package of mid range prospects they should go for it. If it costs a top prospect they should pass.

I think he would cost extra because he's such a fan favorite, and a link to their WS wins. They're not going to be valuing him based on future production. It would be like trading Joe Mauer. It might happen as a favor, if he wanted to go to a playoff team.

And I agree with the point above that he might not be a huge upgrade over Gibson. I think Gibson's stuff could play well in the playoffs. Odorizzi makes me nervous though. All those strikeouts on high fastballs could become dingers against the Yankees.

I am just not convinced Odo, Perez or Pineda could subdue a top team. So I'd be fine with MadBum, if the cost was based on his projected future production. But they'd probably do better to find someone on the way up than the way down, like a Ryan Pressly, not a "proven closer" or former star with "playoff experience."

I think people need to look beyond his regular season numbers for a second and realize that Bumgarner would provide something very important for this team: successful playoff experience. Berrios and Perez are the only ones in the rotation with past playoff experience.

Berrios in playoff games? 3 IP with 3 ER.

Perez in playoff games? 5 IP with 4 ER.

Bumgarner in playoff games? 102.1 IP with 24 ER. A 2.11 ERA.

I thought the headline read "Are," not "Would Be" getting.

Perez in the bullpen at the start of the year was none too inspiring, and probably not what he signed up for, not that it should matter. 

For the right price, say Nick Gordon straight up, I'd do it.  Mix Smith in, and now you've really got me intrigued.

This just feels an awful lot like the Verlander deal for Houston, even if the numbers don't hold up under scrutiny.  All things being as they are right now, out of the pitchers the Twins have right now, plus MadBum, I'd pick him to start Game 3 in Yankee Stadium.  And Game 7 at home.

Kind of a pickle--I'm not quite ready to displace any of the starters right now, but what are the odds that one of them doesn't turn into a pumpkin between now and October?  The depth we have right now is Smeltzer and Stewart and Thorpe, right?  

Do it.

Hopefully, no version.

I for one am happy to go to war in the postseason with the army that gets us there.  With Pineda getting better almost every start, we will have 5 good starters from which to choose 4.  

Now do we need to add an arm or two to the bullpen, yes.  I hope that is where the FO focuses their attention and uses their ammunition to strengthen the pen.

I mean, he's 29 years old... The wheels aren't falling off quite yet.

Debuted at 19 though. Compare with Barry Zito.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zitoba01.shtml

If this is the only move the Twins will make, don't bother.

1700 IP is a lot, but he still looks decent. My point was only that I trust talent, not experience.

And he's been clutch in playoffs. That's what the Twins are missing.

In a way, I'd rather have him as a free agent in the off-season than pay much for him as a rental. I think he's got years left as a 3-4 guy (maybe more?). The games he's missed in recent years were not due to arm issues. But I don't think he's much of an upgrade vs a strong Gibson as of this moment. Then again, he'd be great insurance headed into the post season in the event that Odo/Gibson especially turn into pumpkins (as Han mentions above) between now and then. Not easy call. SF will lose leverage as the deadline approaches...there will be pressure for them to get something for him. It will be a game of chicken among the contenders as that date approaches.

Verlander didn’t play to his potential with the Tigers when they were struggling. Some guys get used to playing meaningful games for contenders and need that extra motivation.