SAN FRANCISCO - The headlines were splashy, but the latest on Madison Bumgarner isn't exactly new.
The recent headlines all say the Giants are open to trading Bumgarner, but Farhan Zaidi, the man who will make that decision, made as much clear on his first day on the job earlier this month.
"Where we are, everything has to be on the table in terms of how we move this team and roster forward," the Giants' new president of baseball operations said in response to a question about Bumgarner.
Translation: Of course I'm going to take calls on Bumgarner, and of course I'm going to make them.
Zaidi is tasked with turning the Giants into contenders, and there's a decent chance that means temporary pain by dealing his best pitcher now for prospects who can help later. He also, however, might decide the best time for such a move is at next year's trade deadline.
But for now, Bumgarner is available for the right price, and Jon Morosi of MLB.com moved the conversation forward Monday night by connecting the first outside team to the left-hander. Morosi reported that the Braves checked in on Bumgarner earlier in the offseason, but there are no active talks. He also connected the Brewers and Phillies to Bumgarner, although it's unclear if they actually spoke to Zaidi. What is clear is this story isn't going away, as much pain as it causes most.
So, Giants fans, here's an early look at five teams you might continue to hear about when it comes to Bumgarner rumors:
