[Mick]

As much as I hate to see Bumgarner move on, I am pleased to see the Giants stop giving five (or more) year deals to legacy players.  The situation in which SF currently finds itself was created by awarding long term extensions to guys who have been unable to produce at levels commensurate with the contracts they received.  Heck, even four years to MB would have been a stretch.

If the Giants offered Bumgarner 4 years for $70M, they were giving more per year than the D-Backs. Disappointing to see him go, but he's projected to be just about a 4 ERA and below .500 pitcher this season, with his highest WHIP ever. It probably gets worse after that, unless he re-invents himself.  But even if he plateaus there, is a .500 pitcher worth $17M/yr?  You could say he is an innings eater, but it sure seems to me the trend in MLB is for starters to throw fewer innings, Manfred's stupid 3-batter minimum B.S. be damned.

I'm fine with the draft pick and having the extra cash to spend in other areas, all things considered.

Completely agree with both of you.  Bum has come off of three years, two of which were wildly subpar.  Hasn't been an All-Star in four years.  WHIP and ERA took a precipitous jump.  Our GM --  whose most recent team won 106, 92 and 104 games in the last three seasons -- has judged MadBum not worth it.  I'm very much inclined to agree.  It's painful for me to see Crawford and Posey play now.

BTW, I think Bum is going to get shredded this year in that pitcher's park.

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Except that Bum was still delivering in 2019. Belt and Crawford were in stink mode the past season.

This last season, Bum had a 2.93 ERA and a 0.929 WHIP at Oracle.  He had a 5.84 ERA and a 1.297 WHIP at Chase Field (Diamondbacks home stadium).

2020 is going to be very entertaining for Bumgarner.

[Mick]

As much as I hate to see Bumgarner move on, I am pleased to see the Giants stop giving five (or more) year deals to legacy players.  The situation in which SF currently finds itself was created by awarding long term extensions to guys who have been unable to produce at levels commensurate with the contracts they received.  Heck, even four years to MB would have been a stretch.

If the Giants offered Bumgarner 4 years for $70M, they were giving more per year than the D-Backs. Disappointing to see him go, but he's projected to be just about a 4 ERA and below .500 pitcher this season, with his highest WHIP ever. It probably gets worse after that, unless he re-invents himself.  But even if he plateaus there, is a .500 pitcher worth $17M/yr?  You could say he is an innings eater, but it sure seems to me the trend in MLB is for starters to throw fewer innings, Manfred's stupid 3-batter minimum B.S. be damned.

I'm fine with the draft pick and having the extra cash to spend in other areas, all things considered.

Completely agree with both of you.  Bum has come off of three years, two of which were wildly subpar.  Hasn't been an All-Star in four years.  WHIP and ERA took a precipitous jump.  Our GM --  whose most recent team won 106, 92 and 104 games in the last three seasons -- has judged MadBum not worth it.  I'm very much inclined to agree.  It's painful for me to see Crawford and Posey play now.

BTW, I think Bum is going to get shredded this year in that pitcher's park.

---

Except that Bum was still delivering in 2019. Belt and Crawford were in stink mode the past season.

This last season, Bum had a 2.93 ERA and a 0.929 WHIP at Oracle.  He had a 5.84 ERA and a 1.297 WHIP at Chase Field (Diamondbacks home stadium).

2020 is going to be very entertaining for Bumgarner.