The Giants have reportedly decided on their next manager and he’s a familiar face within the Bay Area and the NL West.
Melvin will take over for Gabe Kapler, who was fired on September 29.
Baggarly writes, “The Giants are turning to a three-time Manager of the Year to get them back on track. After a swift interview process, they are poised to announce the hiring of Bob Melvin," according to his sources.
Melvin spent the last two seasons with the Padres after guiding the A’s to six postseason appearances during his tenure in Oakland from 2011-2021. Prior to joining the A’s Melvin managed the Diamondbacks and Mariners.
Baggarly reports, "The Giants moved quickly once the Padres granted permission to speak to Melvin, who had one year remaining on his contract to manage in San Diego but was known to clash with Padres GM A.J. Preller. Melvin met on Monday with several top Giants officials on the baseball operations and ownership level, including executive board member Buster Posey. Evidently, nothing emerged from those conversations to dissuade San Francisco officials that Melvin, a Bay Area native who turns 62 on Saturday, was the right choice for the current moment."
The heat will remain on Farhan Zaidi to improve the top half of the Giants roster and put a more successful and compelling product on the field in 2024 but hiring Melvin is a first step back toward respectability for the Giants as they enter a pivotal offseason.