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Dodgers: Ruling Out Two High Profile Summer Upgrades For LA

By Michael Wittman

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning in Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the ninth inning in Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park on May 23, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

The Past is the Past 

There is no denying that Madison Bumgarner had one of the greatest postseasons of all-time in 2014.  There is also no denying that 2014, is well in the rearview mirror now, being five years ago.  The Dodgers rotation is currently one of the best rotations in baseball, adding Madison Bumgarner because of his postseason track record makes little sense.  Especially given how long ago that storied success was.

This season Bumgarner has an ERA of 4.10.  That would rank him eighth on the Dodgers if we remove Caleb Ferguson’s one start.  The Dodgers’ rotation is as deep as any in the game and Hyun-Jin Ryu is pitching better than anyone in baseball right now.  The projected playoff rotation of Ryu, Kershaw, Buehler, and Hill, leaves no room for MadBum since he is not a surefire upgrade.

That doesn’t even take into account Julio Urias, who pending the outcome of his investigation, could be a starter in the postseason as well.  The Dodgers do not need another mid-tier starting pitcher, and if one was acquired it should be a pitcher who is a 1 or 2 starter like Trevor Bauer.  Especially with former Dodger GM Farhan Zaidi in tune with the Dodgers’ farm system.

Bumgarner is simply not that type of pitcher anymore as shown by his career high hard-hit rate of 44.4% and an inflated ERA of 4.10.  To put that in perspective, Bumgarner’s average hard-hit rate is just 29.7% and his average ERA is 3.08.  While he is still a solid pitcher, on a loaded Dodgers’ staff, he is not better than their four projected playoff starters.

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