3-Time World Series Champion Becomes Free Agent

It was about a week ago when the Arizona Diamondbacks finally relented and admitted that it was the end of the line for them with former three-time World Series Champion Madison Bumgarner. They designated him for assignment, and today, as expected, he cleared waivers and was released, making him a free agent. 

#Dbacks LHP Madison Bumgarner has been formally released by the club.

He becomes a free agent and can sign with any team.

— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) April 26, 2023

Mad Bum is still only 33, but the last three years with the Snakes have been an unmitigated disaster for him, as he's compiled a combined 5.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 69 starts, with a 15-32 record. This season, he was off-the-charts dreadful, registering a 10.26 ERA with a 2.40 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts against 15 walks in 16.2 innings.

Madison Bumgarner tells Willson Contreras to shut the fuck up, then Contreras pimps the hell out of a walk pic.twitter.com/JyZw4EvUng

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 19, 2023

Will some team, somewhere, give him a chance, perhaps on a minor league deal? There are plenty of teams who've suffered a number of injuries to their rotation who just might be desperate. And if a team does want to give a long-shot pitcher a chance, might as well one who was once one of the greatest pitchers in the game.

Bumgarner helped lead the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles in five years. In fact, he holds a 4-0 mark with a 0.25 ERA in five World Series games, plus a WS MVP from 2014.

Wherever he winds up, the D-backs will be responsible for the remaining $34M left on Bumgarner’s 5-year, $85M contract.