Giants World Series MVP told Rangers manager he was 'ready' to pitch in ALCS
Free-agent starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner reached out to Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy recently to let him know he was "ready" to pitch in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros.
Bumgarner was one of three notable former San Francisco Giants stars who contacted their former manager before and/or after Bochy led the Rangers to their first World Series title in franchise history.
The southpaw was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft and made his big-league debut with the club in 2009. Bumgarner, catcher Buster Posey and starter Tim Lincecum were among the key contributors in San Francisco's run to the 2010 World Series title under Bochy, which ironically, was finished off against Texas.
The trio of Giants legends again led the franchise to a championship in 2012 (with Posey winning that season's MVP award) and Bochy earned his third NL pennant and second title. Bumgarner entered icon status with the team's 2014 World Series, as he won the MVP award for both the NLCS and Fall Classic with Bochy, Lincecum and Posey again by his side.
Lincecum last pitched in 2016 with the Los Angeles Angels, while Posey spent his entire 13-year career in the Bay Area before retiring following the 2021 campaign.
"MadBum" signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2019 following 11 seasons with the Giants. He struggled after leaving San Francisco, posting a 15-32 record and 5.23 ERA over 69 starts with the D-backs from 2020-23.
The four-time All-Star was released by Arizona in late April.
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