Yankees: Is Madison Bumgarner or Marcus Stroman the better trade option?

After the Yankees came up short in their pursuit of free agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel it’s likely that they’ll shift their focus to the trade market as we get closer to the July 31st deadline. Madison Bumgarner and Marcus Stroman are two of the biggest names who could be dealt in the coming weeks. Which of them would be the better fit for the Yankees?

Over the past couple weeks, rumors have linked the Yankees to both Bumgarner and Stroman among other starting pitchers who could be available in trade talks. Either one of them would provide a big upgrade to a Yankee rotation that’s been depleted by injuries all season. And whether staff ace Luis Severino returns or not you can bet GM Brian Cashman will be looking to acquire another starter of their caliber.

2019 stats so far:

Bumgarner: 14 GS, 3-6, 3.84 ERA, 84 K’s, 87 IP, 1.16 WHIP, .256 BAA, 13 HR

Stroman: 14 GS, 3-8, 3.31 ERA, 63 K’s, 81.2 IP, 1.32 WHIP, .255 BAA, 7 HR

There are other names like Trevor Bauer and Mike Minor who could be highly sought after but their teams are still in the playoff mix so whether or not they’ll be available is unknown right now. In the case of Bumgarner, the Giants would be crazy not to trade him considering he’s a free agent after the season and they’re in last place in their division with a 27-38 record. Stroman, on the other hand, is still under team control through 2020, but his Blue Jays are 18 games behind the Yankees in the AL East with a record of 23-43.

Both the Giants are the Blue Jays are in the midst of a rebuild and neither one of them is close to contending any time soon. The Giants should have torn things down a year or two ago because now they’re stuck with a lot of aging veterans on big contracts. However, if they want to accelerate things in a positive direction and really boost their farm system Bumgarner is their best trade piece to help make that happen.

The Blue Jays already have one of the top farm systems in all of baseball, but by the time Stroman hits free agency at the end of the 2020 season, they still likely won’t be ready to contend in the AL East. His value right now is as high as it’s ever going to be so they should cash in before the trade deadline and get a big haul to add to what’s already a great pipeline of prospects.

So who’s the better fit for the Yankees?

We already know the Yankees have interest in both players but the guy who would be the better fit for this season is Bumgarner and the reason why is simple. He’s one of the best postseason pitchers in baseball history and adding him to this Yankee rotation could put them over the top.

Career Numbers in the postseason: 16 G, 8-3, 2.11 ERA, 87 K’s, 0.90 WHIP, 102.1 IP

Career Numbers in the World Series: 5 G, 4-0, 0.25 ERA, 31 K’s, 0.52 WHIP, 36 IP

As good of a pickup as Stroman would be he’s struggled during the postseason (4.40 ERA in 5 GS). He also probably wouldn’t even be the best starter in the Yankee rotation especially if Sevy comes back and returns to form. I don’t think even think he’s better than Masahiro Tanaka or James Paxton when they’re healthy and on their A game.

Each of them would be better options than Stroman to start Game 1 or 2 in a playoff series, but not better than Bumgarner. With him you know he can go toe to toe with guys like Verlander and Cole and deliver a great start against a lineup like the Astros. He’s also a guy you want on the mound with your season on the line. Part of the reason the Yanks will look to acquire another front line starter is to help them win their division but if they failed and had to play in the Wild Card game again there aren’t many better options to hand the ball to than Bumgarner.

Now when it comes to what it would cost to acquire either player, the price would probably be pretty similar. Although that’s only because Stroman is under control for next season. If Bumgarner was as well there’s no question he would cost the Yankees more given his accomplishments.

One thing the Yankees have failed to do over the past two seasons is go all in at the deadline to acquire an ace and it’s cost them in the postseason. In 2017, instead of making a move for Verlander they acquired Sonny Gray who they traded this past offseason after his miserable tenure in New York.

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Prior to the 2018 season, the Yanks were in the mix to acquire Gerrit Cole but they didn’t offer enough to Pittsburgh to get a deal done and he also ended up with the Astros. At the trade deadline last year, they weren’t any aces available to trade for so they ended up getting J.A. Happ who was terrible in his lone start of the ALDS against the Red Sox.

The point is that if a guy like Bumgarner is available (which he will be) the Yanks should strongly consider doing whatever it takes to get him. Since he’s a free agent after the season they should have enough to get him and probably could do so without giving up Estevan Florial or Deivi Garcia, their top prospects. That being said if one of them had to be included in a potential package I’d have a hard time telling the Giants no.

This Yankee team is the best team they’ve had in the last three seasons and they’re built better than ever to win their first championship since 2009. The only thing their missing is that ace who can help carry them to another title. Marcus Stroman is a solid piece but he’s not the difference maker they need. Madison Bumgarner is.

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