Yankees GM Brian Cashman said on Monday that the team has interest in free agents Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg -- the cream of the starting pitching crop. And there is no mandate from Hal Steinbrenner to get under the luxury tax. But there are lots of other strong options if Cole and Strasburg land elsewhere.

One of those options is Madison Bumgarner, who -- along with Zack Wheeler and others -- is part of the next tier of starting pitchers down from Cole and Strasburg.

And Cashman said late Tuesday that he plans to speak with Bumgarner's agents.

"He's been a tremendous player for a long time," Cashman told John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle. "We're going to look at everybody that's out there, obviously. Starting pitching is important, and he's been one of the game's better starting pitchers for a long time. So we'll certainly have a conversation."

The 30-year-old Bumgarner is not the dominant force he was from 2010 to 2016, when he helped lead the Giants to three World Series titles. But he is still an above average pitcher, having posted a 3.90 ERA (and identical 3.90 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 203 strikeouts in 207.2 innings (34 starts) in 2019.

Bumgarner is also one of the most legendary performers in postseason history, and that is not lost on Cashman.

"It's nice to know they can pitch in October," Cashman told Shea. "No doubt about it. It's just basically trying to project what they can do for you moving forward in the present. Everybody knows his mental fortitude is obviously there."

MARTINO: Cole not expected to sign until after new year >> Read more

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