It was hard to watch Madison Bumgarner labor against the Cardinals Wednesday as the Arizona Diamondbacks fell 14-5.
Bumgarner has been one of baseball's great competitors in this era. That’s why the Diamondbacks signed him to a five-year, $85 million contract.
That's why he looked like a potential trade target for the Cardinals last season.
But his 69 starts produced a 15-32 record and a 5.23 earned-run average. This season he is 0-3 with a 10.26 ERA in four starts.
So the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment. The team will have to eat roughly $30 million in salary once he clears waivers -- and only an idiot would claim him and that remaining contract.