The D-backs' tough decision on Bumgarner

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We had a story Thursday when the D-backs designated Madison Bumgarner for assignment.

This was a move the D-backs really didn’t want to make.

More than just the money involved, the D-backs hoped that somehow they would be able to get Bumgarner turned around.

“I've had some tough conversations, but this was definitely up there,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said about giving Bumgarner the news. “I had what I feel like was a very strong relationship with Bum and that’s what I’m going to miss the most.”

While many thought this was a move the D-backs had considered as early as last season, D-backs GM Mike Hazen said it was not even a realistic possibility as late as Spring Training this year.

The D-backs did consider asking Bumgarner to go to the bullpen.

This option just was discussed, but just didn’t seem practical for a number of reasons as Hazen explained.

“We talked a little bit about it,” Hazen said. “We didn't know if that was going to be the best fit for either of us. And I think it would have been the easier, safer path to keep from doing this. But in the end, we kind of felt like that's what we would be doing it.”

And in the end, Bumgarner simply was not one of the 13 best pitchers they could put out there.

They haven’t quite made sense of why things didn’t work.

When they signed him to the five-year, $85 million deal, the D-backs thought they were going to get a workhorse, top-of-the-rotation starter that would lead a young staff.

It didn’t happen.

“I don't know,” Hazen said when asked to make sense of Bumgarner’s struggles. “And, frankly, we've all lost a lot of sleep over trying to answer that question. I haven’t answered it yet. And we're here today. I don't have the answer for you. It just didn't work out.”

They have looked into how to better vet potential signings.

The D-backs have done a lot of digging into how to improve their processes when it comes to deciding on assessing players they are going to acquire.

“Nobody would have foreseen this outcome, I don't think, but obviously it happened and we're responsible for it happening and I'm responsible for the decision as to why it happened,” Hazen said. “We'll deconstruct a number of different areas, both in the performance side of things, the coaching side of things, the front office side of things, all those things. But in the end, look, unfortunately -- I’ve been doing this for 20-plus years -- I’ve been a part of some of these that haven't worked out. Sometimes you don't walk away with clear, ‘This is exactly what happened.’ I don't think you can just get gun-shy and just stop doing it. I don't think that's going to be the path for us. We're still going to need to add impact players from outside this organization.”