'Impossible to say' if MadBum will be traded

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi continued to drop no hints about Madison Bumgarner's immediate future and whether the popular left-hander would remain with the club past the July 31 Trade Deadline.

Zaidi indicated the Giants' overall fortunes could influence Bumgarner's status. If San Francisco remains in Wild Card contention or continues to rise in the Wild Card standings, Bumgarner's chances of staying could improve.

Zaidi must weigh the short-term benefits of retaining Bumgarner, San Francisco's top starting pitcher, against the potential long-term gain derived from the player or players whom the Giants could acquire for him.

"It's impossible to say what the next 10 days are going to present, both in terms of what our opportunity to contend is going to be and continue to be and what opportunities the market is going to present," Zaidi said.

Zaidi expressed appreciation for Bumgarner's openly stated disdain for the widespread trade rumors involving him.

"I think it's great, because having a team of very motivated guys that want to win and clear out the distractions is important," Zaidi said. "Obviously the guys here take their cues from him, so I thought it was great."

Zaidi delivered an honest appraisal when asked how a Bumgarner trade would affect the team's desire to end Bruce Bochy's managerial tenure with a rousing season, if not a downright successful one. Bochy has announced plans to retire from managing after this year.

"I think it would upset those things," Zaidi said.