It’s hard to imagine the St. Louis Cardinals signing Madison Bumgarner

St. Louis Cardinals fans are abuzz with speculation that one of the best pitchers in recent memory, Madison Bumgarner, may be on the team’s offseason wish list.

It’s difficult to translate what it means when a team is reported to be “interested in” or “in on” a certain player. Maybe a club is bent on acquiring that player at any cost. But, just as likely, it could mean that a general manager phoned the player’s agent and asked what the sticker price is only to find it to be far too steep. Also a possibility, the rumored interest could be a complete fabrication designed by the player’s agent to light a fire under the real bidders.

There is no doubt Bumgarner could help the Cardinals. While St. Louis has at least four starters who give the team a chance to win every day, maybe even five if Carlos Martinez is able to return to the rotation after a season of being exiled to the bullpen. But the Cardinals haven’t had a starter of Bumgarner’s status at least since Adam Wainwright left his prime or maybe since Chris Carpenter retired. Sure, youngster Jack Flaherty looks like he’s emerging as an ace. But does anyone believe it wouldn’t make him a better pitcher to pick the brain of a teammate who led his team to three World Series titles?

There’s been some speculation that if Bumgarner is signed, Martinez could stay in the bullpen to close games until fireballer Jordan Hicks returns from Tommy John surgery. But I don’t see that happening for a number of reasons.

While improving the pitching is important, St. Louis had a mediocre and inconsistent offense in 2019. Currently, it seems the team is likely to lose cleanup hitter Marcell Ozuna as a free agent with demands of a deal in the range of five years. The Cardinals can’t subtract a significant contributor from a C+ offense and expect to compete.

Complicating the situation, Bumgarner’s going to put St. Louis over their self-imposed budget. So, it would be likely — if the Cardinals did sign Bumgarner — that they’d have to trade away some salary to create space to improve the team in other areas. Swapping out Martinez wouldn’t be enough financial breathing room. Figuring that Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler are unmovable because of their unfavorable contracts, St. Louis might have to consider selling high on second baseman Kolten Wong to create the payroll flexibility it needs to shoehorn in Bumgarner and a much-needed bat.

The mlbtraderumors.com page predicted Bumgarner would command a deal of about four years and $72 million at the beginning of the offseason. But when Zach Wheeler signed this week for five years and $119 million with the Philadelphia Phillies, Bumgarner’s price probably doubled. Wheeler has 44 career wins with a 3.77 earned run average and 1.294 hits and walks allowed per inning pitched. Only a half year older, Bumgarner has 119 wins, a 3.13 earned run average and 1.11 base runners allowed per inning.

I’d like to think Bumgarner to the Cardinals is more than a pipe dream -- especially with the Cincinnati Reds being so aggressive in bolstering their team. But it’s hard to imagine such a big move without having to subtract from the team in other areas.

Scott Wuerz

Belleville News-Democrat

Scott Wuerz has written “Cheap Seats,” a St. Louis Cardinals fan blog for the Belleville News-Democrat, since 2007. He is a former BND reporter who covered breaking news and education.