Getty Image
Madison Bumgarner has been designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The starting pitcher is off to the worst start of his career, currently sitting at 0-3 with an ERA over 10.00.
Making things worse, MLB fans have grown tired of his on-field antics and hot temper. Just this week, he was seen in a verbal altercation with an opposing hitter in an Arizona loss.
While pitching to Cardinals slugger Willson Contreras, Bumgarner began shouting obscenities from the mound. The expletive-laced outburst came in direct reference to Contreras’s big cut in the batter’s box.
After swinging, he let out a yell insinuating that he wished he could have the pitch back. Bumgarner took offense, which then led to the argument.
Madison Bumgarner vs. Willson Contreras 🍿 pic.twitter.com/BnGFV34c1j
— Action Network MLB (@ActionNetMLB) April 19, 2023
Contreras would walk in the at-bat, and Mad Bum would later be pulled after allowing seven runs over three innings.
Now, he’s been pulled from the roster completely.
By being DFA’d, he’s immediately removed from the 40-man team. The MLB defines a designation for assignment as “a player’s immediately removal from his club’s 40-man roster. Within seven days of the transaction, the player can either be traded or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.”
Bumgarner can now be traded (which is highly unlikely) or placed on waivers. If not claimed by another team, he could be released or sent to the minors.
With the move, the Diamondbacks are likely to lose $34 million. Bumgarner is owed $20.4 million over the rest of this year and another $14 million for next season.
Fans have been quick to react to the news on social media. Most weren’t exactly sympathetic to the pitcher’s situation.
One person wrote, “Arizona was so embarrassed by the way he acted yesterday they said F-this, we will use this dead money to get him out of here.”
Another said, “Awesome seeing a responsible baseball choice. Bumgarner has become a bum in his own doing.”
RIP Bozo
— Irvin Castellanos (@Twittirv) April 20, 2023
There are some Giants fans who might welcome him back as he was a major part of the organization’s World Series runs in the 2010s. This San Francisco supporter commented, “Let’s sign him back for pennies!”
Any team will soon be able to sign him to the MLB minimum contract of $720K. We’ll see if Bumgarner gets another Major League gig this year.