LA Angels Need to Refocus On Madison Bumgarner

After losing out on the two aces of free agency in Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, the LA Angels need to do whatever it takes in order to bring Madison Bumgarner to The Big A.

It’s already been reported that the LA Angels have been in contact with the 30-year old southpaw. Per reports, the Halos have even told Bumgarner that in days he pitches, he’d be allowed to hit as the Angels would forego using the designated hitter.

This article isn’t totally about his stats, either. While a lot of people believe Bumgarner is on the decline, I land on the opposite side of the spectrum. While it’s true the two seasons prior to 2019 weren’t encouraging, that was due to fluke injuries sustained by Bumgarner, and weren’t an accurate base for projecting the pitcher’s long term health.

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Bumgarner has rarely suffered “normal injuries” throughout his career. He has been an iron horse year after year and that’s exactly what the Angels need to add to their rotation for 2020 and beyond.

What this really boils down to is this: Mike Trout is in the prime of his career. The Angels have wasted his talents thus far into his career, and they just can’t do that anymore. His extension doesn’t matter if the front office isn’t doing everything imaginable to build a winner around the best player of this millennium, and possibly ever.

Madison Bumgarner needs to be the first step towards that, but they obviously need to do more than that as well. However, MadBum everything the Angels could possibly desire in a free agent pitcher. He’s still only 30, has a long reputation of staying healthy before the random off-field  injuries, and is known for being a shut down pitcher in the postseason.

Was he the best pitcher in the open market? Not by a long shot. Is he the best remaining? Honestly, can’t even guarantee that considering how perfect of a fit Hyun-Jin Ryu would be on the Angels.

Nevertheless, the Angels need someone who knows what it takes to be an ace. Madison Bumgarner has been one the majority of his career, and the Dodgers are already refocusing on Bumgarner. The Angels need to do the same, and need to act quick and with force.