The San Francisco Giants have added a new layer to their long-standing rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers by hiring Buster Posey as their new president of baseball operations. Posey steps in after the departure of Farhan Zaidi, who previously ran the Dodgers’ front office before joining the Giants in 2019.
During Zaidi’s tenure, the Giants had a memorable season in 2021, breaking the Dodgers’ streak of division titles but ultimately falling to them in the playoffs. However, that was the only postseason appearance under his leadership, leading to his exit last September.
Now it’s Posey’s turn to steer the team’s future, and his first order of business is finding a general manager to support him. Interestingly, reports indicate that two of the leading GM candidates are former Dodgers personnel: De Jon Watson and Logan White, currently with the Astros and Padres, respectively.
The Giants have also shown interest in longtime Oakland Athletics executive Billy Owens, as part of their search for a strong, strategic leader for their front office. Notably, the list of contenders does not include notable former GMs like Thad Levine and Kim Ng, both of whom were recently let go.
Additionally, former Giants executives Bobby Evans and Brian Sabean could play roles in the team’s future, especially since Sabean is known for his past successes with the Giants during their championship runs from 2010-2014.
Last season, the Giants finished with an 80-82 record, marking their second consecutive losing season after surprising many with a strong 107-55 record just a year earlier. The incoming GM will work under manager Bob Melvin, who’s familiar with the intricacies of the league, having previously managed the Oakland A’s.