The Diamondbacks made a surprisingly big splash on the free-agent market on Sunday, agreeing to terms with left-hander Madison Bumgarner on a five-year, $85 million contract, a deal that will rank as the second-largest in club history.
The pact will fall short only of the six-year, $206.5 million deal the club gave Zack Greinke four years ago. The Bumgarner deal isn’t unrelated: The Diamondbacks hope his signing will give them the frontline pitcher they were missing after dealing Greinke to the Houston Astros over the summer.
The deal also creates an opportunity, in a way, for the club to consider a variety of other moves.