Bumgarner Should Be At Forefront Of Braves Mind After Two Bad Starts
By Deke Lloyd
The Braves should be in the market for a starter if they aren’t already. After two ugly starts in a row, from two pitchers the Braves could count on last season, it’s time to start looking for some reinforcements for the rotation.
On Wednesday, Kevin Gausman got shelled by the Washington Nationals. Gausman got hit so hard, 8 runs on 8 hits, he only managed to pitch an inning. The Nationals are a team that has been reeling lately, but the game on Wednesday wouldn’t have shown anyone that. That game was followed up by Mike Folytnewicz, who has pitched better lately but has also had his struggles after returning from injury. Against the Detroit Tigers, another team who has not been good this season, Folty gave up 5 runs on 7 hits. The Braves couldn’t dig themselves out of either hole that these pitchers put them in.
There is still time for these two pitchers, Gausman and Folty, but the situations aren’t the game. Gausman is on thin ice. Currently, he’s the Braves fifth pitcher, and he’s barely holding on to that role. The Braves are giving him a chance, but a starter with an ERA over 5 is never welcome in any rotation. Folty, who was thought to be the Braves ace, is going to be given a longer rope because of what he has done for this team. Before his start on Friday, Folty started to pitch better. Unfortunately, all that good work was undone by his start on Friday.
The Braves rotation is pretty set. Mike Soroka, who had another great start today against the Tigers to lead the Braves to a much-needed win, and Max Fried look like the Braves top-two pitchers. Julio Teheran has been fine, which is about all you can expect from him. Folty has been turning the corner, and hopefully, his next start will be more of the old. Gausman is the guy on the chopping block, as of now. All that can change if Gausman has a few good starts, but he hasn’t shown anything this season to make you believe that will come to fruition. If the Braves can find a starter to inject into this rotation, they have to make a move.
There are a few notable names floating around the league today. Most notably, Dallas Keuchel and Madison Bumgarner. Keuchel, a free agent, doesn’t seem like a viable option for the Braves. The Braves aren’t trying to give that many years to any player who is over 30. Bumgarner, who is also over 30, is a guy the Braves would have to trade for. Bumgarner may cost more in the long run, prospects or major league talent, but would be the better option for the Braves. Bumgarner, who is looking to be traded from the Giants, has the Braves as a team he would like to be traded to. With Fried and Soroka already in place, adding Bumgarner could be the move to put this Braves team over the top.
The Braves have options if they wanted to make the trade. They have a player in Ender Inciarte, who is young and affordable, which is an asset for any rebuilding team. Also, the Braves are loaded with young talent, which is what any trading partner will value over major league talent, no matter how affordable they are. There will be a lot of guys who will be untouchable, Pache, Waters, Riley, Soroka, Wilson, Allard, but the Braves have one of the deepest farm systems in all of baseball. The Braves still have guys like Gohara, Jenista, Tarnok, Burrows, that are options to move. Bumgarner would come at an expensive price, but a price that would be worth paying.
Whatever the Braves decide to do, a move needs to be made regarding the starting rotation. Folty has been bad and Gausman has been inconsistent all season. That’s not going to be enough for the Braves, who have a roster good enough to compete against any team in baseball. On nights when Soroka and Fried are pitching, the Braves look unbeatable. Nights when Folty and Gausman are out there, we don’t know what to expect that night. Adding Madison Bumgarner would make a massive difference, maybe the kind of difference to put the Braves over the top. I’m assuming the Braves are going to be more patient to see how the situation plays out, but this week has to make everyone with the Braves start thinking about how to improve this rotation.