MLB Trade Rumors: Madison Bumgarner Deal Discussed by Giants, Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly had "substantive communication" with the San Francisco Giants about trading for pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reported Milwaukee is Bumgarner's next home should the Giants choose to move on from their four-time All-Star. Morosi added that San Francisco would be seeking young pitching, such as Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff or Freddy Peralta, in return.

Bumgarner, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent next winter. He's due $12 million in 2019.

The Giants are coming off a 73-89 season and are in the midst of a rebuild. They hired Farhan Zaidi to be their president of baseball operations in November. Zaidi comes over from the Los Angeles Dodgers and has served under Andrew Friedman and Billy Beane during his MLB career.

Bumgarner went 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.24 WHIP last season. While he's remained highly effective when on the mound, Bumgarner has missed extended parts of the last two seasons. He did not make his 2018 debut until June because of a fractured pinky finger.

The Brewers went 96-67 last season, winning the NL Central and reaching Game 7 of the NLCS before losing to the Dodgers. Milwaukee will bring back a majority of its core from that team and could see Bumgarner as a one-year rental who could push the team to World Series heights.

Bumgarner, should he have a fully healthy and productive season, is likely out of Milwaukee's long-term price range. 

Jhoulys Chacin is the only pitcher close to an ace the Brewers have on their roster at the moment. Getting a piece like Bumgarner to help fortify the rotation could swing the balance of power in the National League.