The Yankees starting rotation has looked bleak as of late and adding the likes of Madison Bumgarner could be a significant improvement.
You can never have enough starting pitching. This statement still holds true with the Yankees, who again are in search for more starting pitching help. Over the past couple of weeks, the starting rotation has been shaky. CC and Paxton both have bad knees, Tanaka and Happ have been inconsistent and now German has a hip problem. The Yankees need another starter to really get them over the hump and get number 28. The person the Yankees need is Madison Bumgarner. Here are two reasons why the Yankees need to trade for the man they call MadBum.
Strike Throwing Machine
One thing that you can’t be doing as a pitcher is walking batters. This is even more important as a pitcher for the Yankees pitching in Yankee Stadium. You don’t want to give hitters free passes, as the next guy can just hit one out. Madison Bumgarner is a pitcher that rarely gives out free passes. Over his 11 year career, MadBum owns a 2.1 BB/9 which is really good.
This year especially MadBum has been great at limiting walks as he owns a 1.8 BB/9. Also, he sports a 4.8 BB% which is almost 4% lower than the MLB average at 8.3. The Yankees need a guy that can give you at least six strong innings almost every game, and MadBum does just that.
A postseason pitcher
To be successful as a Yankees pitcher you need to be able to handle the bright lights of October and no one does that better than MadBum. MadBum has proven time and time again that he can handle the postseason. In the postseason MadBum is 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA. In two wild-card games, Bumgarner has thrown 2 complete game shutouts. His most impressive stat is his World Series ERA. In four games in the World Series, MadBum is 4-0 with a 0.25 ERA. In 36 innings he has only given up one run. Bumgarner is the pitcher the Yankees need to get them over the hump.
The Yankees rotation needs upgrades and MadBum is the perfect guy for us. The Yankees will have to most likely include Clint Frazier in the package for Bumgarner, but he is what we need to get to the promised land