Although the Giants have a good relationship with left-hander Madison Bumgarner, their front office isn’t going to forget his dirt bike accident if the two sides negotiate a new contract in the future, writes John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bumgarner is controllable via eminently affordable team options for both the 2018 and ’19 seasons, after which the three-time World Series champion should be in line to become one of the majors’ richest pitchers. In the meantime, it’s possible the Giants could look to recoup some money from Bumgarner’s current deal in the wake of the off-field shoulder injury that will keep him out for two-plus months; however, Shea notes that doing so would look terrible from a public relations standpoint and could damage the team’s relationship with Bumgarner. Unsurprisingly, general manager Bobby Evans doesn’t seem inclined to quarrel with Bumgarner over money, telling Shea that the 27-year-old ace’s contract is “the least of our concerns.” Rather, the Giants’ “focus is trying to take care of Madison and get him healthy and support him any way we can,” per Evans.
More from the majors’ West divisions:
- The Rockies’ plan when they signed Ian Desmond during the winter was to play him exclusively at first base this year, but Mark Reynolds’ hot start has them rethinking that idea, Owen Perkins of MLB.com suggests. Desmond hasn’t debuted yet this season because of a fractured left hand, but when the shortstop/outfield option does come back (likely sometime in May), the Rockies might take advantage of his ability to handle multiple positions. When asked if that’s the case, manager Bud Black said “yes,” but he noted that using Desmond at short isn’t under consideration. Colorado has a young starter there in second-year man Trevor Story, though he’s hitting a mere .156/.260/.406 in the early going.
- Angels No. 1 starter Garrett Richards insists there’s no correlation between the elbow injury that kept him out for most of last season and the biceps problem that forced him to the 60-day disabled list Saturday, reports Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “My elbow and my shoulder have never felt any better,” Richards said. “Why wouldn’t it, with all the rest I’ve had? I am disappointed with how I feel physically. This is like a nagging thing, I guess. We’re going to deal with it as it comes, a day and a time and hopefully come back sooner than later.” Richards has undergone two MRIs, neither of which has shown any structural damage, but the irritated nerve that has caused his biceps issue has healed so slowly that he’ll be on the shelf until at least June. “Nerves have a mind of their own,” he noted. “They regenerate at their own pace.”
- Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray could be one more rehab start away from making his 2017 big league debut, relays Joe Stiglich of NBC Sports California (video link). According to manager Bob Melvin, the A’s will “have a decision to make” on Gray after he takes the mound for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday. Gray, who’s on the mend from a lat strain, threw five scoreless, one-hit innings Saturday for Single-A Stockton, saying afterward that he had “no limitations” (Twitter link via Shea).
Still confuses me.. Madison did something he probably shouldn’t have been doing but if the Giants punish him, then it will make them look bad and damage the relationship between both parties?
But Madison was the one to put them in that situation and should man up and admit that what he did was wrong. I don’t get it, if it were Cain, Samardzija, or Hundley, then they would be in trouble…
Cain and Samardzija have awful contracts. Bumgarners is cheap and their franchise cornerstone. Why would they want to annoy him him in any way? Im sure in his next contract there will be no dirt biking. Also many players probably do activities they shouldn’t on off days. It seems unfair to punish them only of they get hurt.
I think it’s in the standard CBA that players can’t go dirt bike riding or at least it’s implied.
It’s just not SFs style as an organization to make a big deal about this publicly. I suspect the front office will make it clear that it wasn’t a cool thing of MadBum to do privately and tell him to not do that kinda stuff anymore. If it happens again they might try to recoup something but 2 months of MadBums salary is like 2 million dollars which is chump change for SF.
So because he is cheap and good he gets a pass for doing something that jeopardizes the team?
I get it will be handled privately but it’s still not okay just because he is a stud.
I’m a Padres fan and if Wil Myers, Manny Margot, or Austin Hedges had this injuring, I would be very upset and disappointed with them even though they are the top guys. They should be setting the great example.
Well, I’m a Giants fan, and I’m pissed at him too, but if he comes back and continues to pitch like he has in the past, I want him to remain on the team in the future. If not filing a grievance against him helps to keep him here, then I don’t file it. Yes, it’s a double standard, but so are a lot of things in life. A lot will also depend on how he reacts to the incident. If he’s contrite, accepts responsibility and doesn’t do stuff like that again, then the Giants will move past it also. If he doesn’t seem to learn a lesson, then I think the Giants would be upset.
@petersdylan36 – I get what you’re saying but I never said offered an opinion on what SF should do, I just offered a prediction on what they likely will do.
Well said.
This is the second time he’s been involved in a bike accident…….???
Does anyone know Dahl’s situation for the Rockies?
He is awaiting results on an MRI and will begin a rehab stint soon. Barring any setbacks, he should be back by early May. Hope this helps.
Thanks. That will impact where Desmond plays.
I guess if you hit 10 home runs in your first month in the majors last year, you’re gonna hit .150 this year. Storey and Sanchez.
Yeah, Story’s 41.4% K rate isn’t helping his offensive line
Don’t include Gary in that just yet!
I get why people think he shouldn’t be allowed dirt biking but that’s really unfair. A team shouldn’t be able to tell a player what they can or can’t do unless it’s something like criminal activity or ethically wrong.
This is definitely a good side story within the whole ordeal, but when you are being paid millions upon millions of dollars by the franchise to perform at a high level, which requires being fully healthy, you should avoid dangerous activities.
It isn’t like they are trying to take over control of his every day activities or hobbies, they just want him to abstain from certain activities which jeopardize his health and put his body at a higher risk of injury.
The only way to protect the team is to make the player forfeit their salary while injured. Make salaries guaranteed if a player gets hurt on the field or training for baseball, but not if they get injured riding a dirt bike or falling down the stairs drunk or punching a wall, etc… I know the players probably won’t change but it gives the teams some protection and lessens their need to have to babysit players when they’re not on the field.
Almost every contract in every professional sport contains clauses that restrict non-baseball activities if they catty a higher rate of injury risk than a reasonably “normal” activity.
And when it comes to contracts, the parties can absolutely agree that certain activities are prohibited. That’s kind of the point of a freely negotiated contract, it expresses the collective will of the parties involved.
*carry
So what good do clauses in contracts do, except maybe protect the team financially from players with bad judgement? You can’t create good judgment through clauses in contracts. Players are either going to have it, or not.
didn’t jeff kent do the same exact thing?!?! but, he did lie about it, saying he fell out of the bed of his truck.
but, i do think DURING a season a team can limit what things players do. with or without insurance.