MLB Trade Rumors: Madison Bumgarner, Matthew Boyd Expected To Remain Put, Limiting Yankees' Options

The once seemingly robust market for starting pitchers isn’t nearly as deep as it appeared. A few of the biggest names that had been considered trade candidates are now expected to remain put at Wednesday’s 4 p.m. EDT deadline.

Madison Bumgarner will probably finish the 2019 season with the San Francisco Giants, who have played their way back into the postseason race. The Detroit Tigers won’t make the playoffs, but their asking price for Matthew Boyd will reportedly keep him in the Motor City.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Buster Olney both named Bumgarner as a player involved in trade rumors that will ultimately stay put. The Giants are two games above .500 and 2.5 games out of the second NL Wild-Card spot.

According to The New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the Tigers are valuing Boyd as an ace. Detroit has the worst record in baseball, but the remaining 3.5 years of control they have on Boyd give the Tigers little motivation to trade the pitcher right now.

Bumgarner is set to become a free agent this winter. A strong July has lowered his ERA to 3.74.

Boyd has a 3.94 ERA. He’s eighth among AL starters with a 3.3 WAR and fifth with 178 strikeouts.

Both pitchers have been linked to the New York Yankees at some point this season. Perhaps more so than any buyer at the trade deadline, the Yankees need to acquire a starting pitcher.

New York has the AL’s best record, despite a poor season from its rotation. Bumgarner’s stellar postseason track record makes him an ideal fit with the Yankees. The organization might value Boyd more than most pitchers on the market because he isn’t close to becoming a free agent.

Because neither pitcher is likely to be dealt unless the Giants or Tigers are absolutely blown away with an offer, the Yankees are left looking elsewhere. Robbie Ray and Trevor Bauer might be New York’s most realistic targets.

The Houston Astros are also looking to trade for a starter. They’ve been linked to Bumgarner in the past, but a trade for Mets’ starter Zack Wheeler could be on the horizon.