Phillies Have Reportedly Been in Contact With Reps for Free Agent Pitcher Madison Bumgarner

The Philadelphia Phillies need a major shot in the arm this offseason, especially in a starting rotation that has waffled between average and mediocre over the last few years.

That boost could come in the form of a soft-tossing veteran lefty looking to contend.

Madison Bumgarner, who spent the last decade with the San Francisco Giants, is on the open market this offseason, and the Phillies are expected to be in on the veteran southpaw.

Bumgarner went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA in his eleventh season as a Giant, pitching 207 innings and striking out nearly a batter an inning.

Aaron Nola remains one of the most promising young right-handers in the game, and Jake Arrieta is solid when available, but Bumgarner could be the piece that finally makes the Phillies free from depending on young starters to not wet the bed in big moments.

Bumgarner proved that he's still a quality middle of the rotation pitcher, even though he has lost his ace stuff over the years. Bumgarner is just 30 years old, so he could provide some long-term stability in a wide open Philadelphia rotation.