Madison Bumgarner Rumors: Phillies 'Actively Interested' in SP in Free Agency

The Philadelphia Phillies' need for help in the starting rotation has put them in the market for free agent Madison Bumgarner.

Per MLB Network's Jon Paul Morosi, the Phillies are "actively interested" in the four-time All-Star:

Morosi later confirmed the Phillies and Bumgarner's representatives have been in contact. 

Pitching has been the focal point of Philadelphia's offseason plans coming off a disappointing 81-81 record in 2019. 

Phillies starters ranked 17th in MLB with a 4.64 ERA in 2019. Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin were their only pitchers who threw more than 150 innings. 

The Athletic's Matt Gelb reported in October that Phillies management was meeting to map out their free-agent agenda, which would include one plan to sign Gerrit Cole and one that didn't include the hard-throwing right-hander. 

Cole could be in line to get the richest deal ever for a starting pitcher. The current record-holder is David Price's seven-year, $217 million contract from the Boston Red Sox. 

Bumgarner will come with a cheaper price tag than Cole. The southpaw tied his career high with 34 starts last season for the San Francisco Giants. He posted a 3.90 ERA with 203 strikeouts in 207.2 innings.