The Giants continue to vet candidates to be Bruce Bochy’s replacement. After sitting down with Cubs first base coach Will Venable last Friday, the organization recently spoke with Astros bench coach Joe Espada over the phone, reports MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter). It doesn’t appear they have yet met in-person with Espada, who Heyman quips has been “pretty busy” in recent weeks. Not only has Espada had postseason work to handle, he’s also twice interviewed with the Cubs for their managerial opening and at least garnered some consideration from the Pirates for the same role. Heyman notes that Espada remains in play in Chicago and Pittsburgh, although most recent indications are that the Cubs will turn elsewhere.
Espada’s inclusion in the Giants’ mix reflects the organization’s patience and willingness to cast a wide net in search of their new skipper, opines Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). There’s been recent chatter that A’s quality control coach Mark Kotsay is the favorite to land the job. However, Schulman pumps the brakes a bit, reporting that the organization isn’t yet set on either Kotsay or former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, both of whom have clear ties to President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi.
With so many names still floating around, it doesn’t seem any decision is imminent. Indeed, Schulman predicts the search will last into November (Twitter link). That would give the club more than enough time to formally sit down with Espada if they so desire, as the World Series wraps up October 30 at the latest (assuming, of course, Espada doesn’t get a managerial offer somewhere else in the meantime). Regardless, it seems clear Zaidi’s leaving no stone unturned in his first chance to handpick a dugout leader.
Stay up to date on all the league’s managerial rumors here.
Not Kapler….
I don’t know too much about Espada, but when I heard his name, from the Astros. I thought he might have a good chance. Better than Kotsay.
I honestly think the options might be kind of thin.
Might as well wait to interview the guy.
It would be interesting to see how Kapler handles a rebuilding team rather than a win-now team like Philly, you never know, maybe he’s not as bad as was shown in Philadelphia.
He wasn’t even bad in Philly though. He’s a smart guy and will be a good manager for the right club
You can have him
Given this delay, I am guessing that the current interviewees are going to get a pass. The Ross signing and the Phillies going with Girardi or Buck shows the divergent views of front offices. Giants will go after Espada. We
So who the f is Farhan Zaidi? I have been a SF Giants fan since 1963 now living in Alabama. The Farhan Giants just retired Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy who for sure will be managing again. What were Baer and Sabean thinking about to hire this ex-Dodger exec that was to be shown the door out of LA. The 2020 Giants will be finishing last in the division under Farmhand. Nice choice.
You’re an idiot
Farhan Zaidi is a Canadian born in an area where baseball does not exist or is even known. Went to Berkeley which should have disqualified him for the high executive role. An expert at math, Billy Beane hires him. From there he moved up the ladder. From there he took the GM role in LA where he took over a strong NL club. Always a player or bullpen arm short, wasted some strong LA teams with perennial underachievement. Most, if not all, Beane disciples fail at running teams on their own.
You can add that to Wikipedia if you like. Giants could be in a world of trouble in 3 years. It would make today look like a cakewalk.
Whoa, I too am a Giants fan, and this hurts my head. Clearly being in Alabama has clouded your head:
1. Zaidi had nothing nothing to do with Bochy retiring from the Giants.
2. Sabean had nothing to do with hiring Zaidi.
3. Zaidi wasn’t “shown the door” in LA. In fact, the exact opposite – he interviewed with the Giants for a promoted position BECAUSE he is very good.
4. I’m not sure what you expected from Zaidi in a year the Giants were widely expected to finish in last place, but he did quite well. Yastrzemski and Dickerson came straight off the trash heap into the starting lineup, and did quite well at it. Many of the no-name relievers he picked up helped solidify the solid bullpen. I had Dodgers as much as the next guy, but in a one year sample size, they nailed it with Zaidi.
5. Farmhand is a pretty funny nickname for him, I must admit.
Yup I stand bu my Farmhand observations.
Aww Ott