MLB rumors: Giants, Madison Bumgarner have ‘mutual interest’ in extension

The Giants and Madison Bumgarner have “mutual interest” in working out an extension on the ace’s contract, San Francisco general manager Bobby Evans told Jon Morosi on MLB Network Radio.

However, Evans said that there is “no active conversation at the moment — or a firm timeline to start talks.”

Bumgarner is looking to bounce back in 2018 after missing about three months of the season last year due to a Grade 2 sprain and bruised ribs, which he suffered in a dirt-bike accident during the team’s off day in Colorado on April 20. The injury put him on the list of weird injuries that have happened to baseball players. The 28-year-old Bumgarner went 4-9 with a 3.32 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP while striking out 101 batters and only walking 23 in 17 starts.

Bumgarner is in the final year of his seven-year, $46.06 million contract after signing a five-year extension in 2012. He also has a $12 million club option for 2019.

Despite the injury last year, he is still one of the best pitchers in the game and he is going to command a ton of money after what he has done for the Giants in his nine-year career. He led them to three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014, respectively, with the last one resulting in him earning MVP honors. He is also four-time All-Star and a four-time NL Cy Young top-10 finisher.

In the regular season, Bumgarner has gone 104-76 with a 3.01 ERA, 1,482 Ks and a 28.2 WAR in 234 appearances, including 231 starts. In the postseason, though, Bumgarner is virtually lights out, as he has an 8-3 mark with a 2.11 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and 87 Ks to 20 walks in 102 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.