By Maria Guardado | 28 minutes ago
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SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants’ manager search came into focus over the weekend, with Bob Melvin emerging as the obvious front-runner after receiving permission from the Padres to formally interview for the position.
A game that seemed increasingly inevitable came to an end on Wednesday when the Giants announced they had made Melvin the 40th manager in franchise history and the 18th in the San Francisco era. Melvin — who was introduced at a press conference at Oracle Park on Wednesday morning — will replace Gabe Kapler, who was fired on Sept. 29 after four years at the helm of the Giants.
The move represents another homecoming for Melvin, a Bay Area native who attended Menlo-Atherton High School and Cal before playing 10 seasons in the big leagues, including three with the Giants (1986-88).
A three-time Manager of the Year – twice with the A’s in 2012 and 2018 – Melvin has a 1,517-1,425 record over his 20-year managerial career with Seattle (two seasons), Arizona (five seasons) and Oakland (11 seasons). set up) and San Diego (two relays). Melvin, who turns 62 on Saturday, has a longstanding relationship with Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, as the two worked together during their time with the A’s.
Melvin had one year left on the initial three-year contract he signed with the Padres, but there was a feeling he might become available as there were reports of a serious rift between him and San Diego general manager AJ Preller , gave.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Melvin is poised to become just the fourth manager in the last 35 years to manage two division rivals in consecutive seasons. He joins John Farrell (Blue Jays 2012, Red Sox ’13) and Fredi Gonzalez (Marlins 2010). 11 Braves), Bruce Bochy (2006 Padres, ’07 Giants) and Jeff Torborg (2001 Expos, ’02 Marlins).
While Melvin led the Padres to a National League Championship Series appearance last year, his star-studded squad fell well short of expectations in 2023, going 82-80 and finishing third in the NL West (one spot ahead of the 79- 83 Giants).
Preller said he expected Melvin to return as manager during his season-ending press conference on Oct. 4, but that scenario appeared distant after the Padres gave Melvin permission to interview with San Francisco.
Melvin hopes to follow in the footsteps of Bochy, who left the Padres after the 2006 season but won three World Series with the Giants and led the Rangers to the Fall Classic this season, his first with Texas.
It’s unclear what Melvin’s arrival will mean for the rest of the Giants’ coaching staff, as several current members, including backup coach Kai Correa, third base coach Mark Hallberg and assistant coach Alyssa Nakken, were among the internal candidates for the position.
San Francisco has also been linked to Red Sox game planning/catching coach Jason Varitek and Mariners bullpen coach/quality control coach Stephen Vogt, who is reportedly a “serious candidate” to succeed Terry Francona as the Guardians’ next manager.