Madison Bumgarner doesn’t ‘give a s–t’ about trade rumors

No one knows for sure if Thursday night was Madison Bumgarner’s last time pitching as a San Francisco Giant.

But it was clear he never wanted it to end, as he pleaded with Giants manager Bruce Bochy to send him back out for the tenth inning against the Mets.

“I didn’t try to make it much of a conversation but he wasn’t having it. Usually if I really want to I can get my way with him, but he wasn’t having it today,” Bumgarner told reporters following the 16-inning, 3-2 win over the Mets. “How many times do you get to go out for the 10th?”

The four-time All-Star has been involved in trade rumors for almost the entire 2019 season, with the Yankees among his potential suitors, but Bumgarner has made it clear where he wishes to be on August 1st.

“I don’t give a s–t,” the 29-year-old left-hander said. “I’m here to win games for this team, and that’s what we’re doing.”

On Thursday, Bumgarner allowed one run, five hits and a walk over nine innings before Donovan Solano’s 16th-inning RBI single extended the Giants’ winning streak to six games.

When Bumgarner reluctantly left the mound, he received a standing ovation from the 36,852 fans in the home crowd.

Thursday’s win, which took four hours and 47 minutes, was a statement, according to Bumgarner.

“I’m trying to win games for the Giants and we’re trying to get into the postseason and we’re making a push,” he said. “We’re coming.”

The Giants have won 13 of their last 15 games, with Bumgarner logging 34 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched throughout his last five appearances. In July, Bumgarner has given up 16 hits and two earned runs in three contests.

Bumgarner got off to a mediocre start this season, but he has simultaneously lifted the Giants into the NL wild-card race and raised his own trade value among other contenders.

“We’re still close to the midway point. But, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Bumgarner said. “It’s pretty exciting to watch these games. We’ve got a lot of veterans, a lot of guys that have been there before. If we manage to keep this going and sneak (into the playoffs) I don’t think anyone’s going to want to match up against us.”

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