In an expected move Thursday, Madison Bumgarner rejected his qualifying offer from the Giants, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
San Francisco knew this was likely when it declined to move Bumgarner at the deadline. The Giants had a scorching July and chose to hold onto the top starting pitcher on the market, opting instead for subtler moves — shipping out older relievers from a strong bullpen to bring back talented position player prospects and make room in the pen for emerging young arms.
That angle for a potential playoff run never materialized once August rolled around, and now the decision not to trade Bumgarner could come back to bite the Giants.