Madison Bumgarner might not be on the trade block after all.
MLB Network reported Friday that the San Francisco Giants are planning to keep Bumgarner rather than making him available before the July 31 trade deadline.
The team’s resurgence has everything to do with the decision. According to the report, if the Giants are still making the climb out of the National League West cellar on Monday, they could become buyers at the deadline.
Bumgarner, who turns 30 on August 1, is scheduled to start the series finale this weekend in San Diego, against whom the Giants have five straight wins. Bumgarner has given up only five total runs in his past three starts, including a complete game against the Mets on July 19.
The Giants are 17-4 since June 29 and entered Friday within 3.5 games of the second NL Wild Card spot at 52-51 despite a run differential of negative-43.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said the focus at the moment is “trying to put ourselves in position to be contenders this year.”
Bumgarner can enter free agency after the season and expectations outside the organization centered on the Giants trying to move the lefty in order to get something in return.