The Giants announced Monday night they’ve hired Pete Putila as their new general manager. Putila, formerly an Astros assistant GM, steps in as the #2 in the front office hierarchy under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi. Previous GM Scott Harris departed a few weeks ago to take over baseball operations with the Tigers.
Zaidi informed reporters last week the team was hoping to have a GM in place by early November. San Francisco struck far earlier than that, nabbing the well-regarded Putila away from Houston. “Being where we are and facing a big offseason, I think it’s going to be a great thing for us to have some fresh perspectives in the organization,” Zaidi said at the time. “A new general manager could certainly bring a fresh perspective on our roster, player development and evaluation philosophies.”
A West Virginia graduate, Putila spent more than a decade in the Houston front office. Originally hired as an intern in 2011, he quickly moved through the front office under former GM Jeff Lunhow. He spent a fair amount of time working in the build-up of the Houston farm system during the Astros rebuild, earning a promotion to director of player development by 2016. Towards the end of the 2019 campaign, Putila earned a bump to assistant GM.
The following offseason, the Astros parted ways with Lunhow in the wake of the public revelation of the extent of the 2017 sign-stealing operation. New GM James Click kept Putila in a high-ranking front office position, however, reflecting the value a pair of baseball operations leaders placed on his input.
Putila was a candidate for the Giants GM search back in 2019. San Francisco ended up poaching Harris from the Cubs front office that time around, but Putila apparently made a favorable impression on Zaidi and his high-ranking staff at the time. He also garnered some consideration in the Pirates GM search that winter, but Pittsburgh eventually tabbed Ben Cherington to lead baseball ops.
It’s a pivotal offseason for the Giants, who disappointed with an 81-81 season this year. Last winter, San Francisco mostly focused on retaining the core of a team that claimed 107 wins and an NL West title in 2021, aside from replacing Kevin Gausman with Carlos Rodón in free agency. There figures to be a fair bit more turnover this winter, with Zaidi on the record about his desire to get a younger, more athletic position player group. Putila will step into the biggest role of his career, helping Zaidi oversee that likely aggressive winter.
Well that was fast.
He’s still sort of an assistant GM. If there’s a PoBO in house, the GM is an assistant GM.
Yes and no.
The Astros have three AGMs, so hes getting an increase responsibilities since he’ll now be a firm second-in-command
What’s his background? Has he actually ever played the game at a high level (beyond HS) or is he strictly an analyst like Zaidi?
Nice bait. Hopefully this site is smart enough to know there’s no purpose to this question other than start an argument
“NERDS IN THE CLUBHOUSE!”
-Goose Gossage
Analytics nerds
Playing the game at a high level is not necessarily a prerequisite for being an excellent judge of talent or of being a smart tactician.
Love the non Ivy League connection between this PoBO and his new GM. Refreshing.
I played the game through college and then some. Wasn’t much on stats, err analytics, back then and not much in to following them today. Have always been grateful for those that do this vital work … regardless of their playing or lack of playing background. Cheers,!
See Weaver, Earl the Whiz of D level baseball.
Bill Walsh. John Wooden. Greg Popovich. Bill Parcells. Red Auerbach. They’re pretty good evaluators of talent. Where did they play at a high level? BTW, the present day Dodgers largely owe their development as a Gold Standard to Zaidi.
most star players lay eggs as coaches and upper management. That’s why catchers, short stops, and relief pitchers are the best coaches in MLB.
They all played in college not washed athletes jocks. IMHO Giants are too top heavy in ultimate decision makers that miss the knowledge that comes with an understanding of high level, day to day playing the game. No the criteria is not just former players but more of a balance in front office. Both are important.
Honest question – Did Putila even play in high school? Zaidi didn’t we know that.
Poached him from Houston before they kicked Click to the curb. Smart move, Farhan.
I’m only going off rumors being reported on sites like this. I think Click deserves an extension and I’m shocked Houston hasn’t locked him up yet. The fact that it’s gotten this close to the free agency says a lot.
He doesn’t get along with the owner
I thought it was he didn’t get along with Baker not Crane. Who do you keep between Baker and Click? Crane, at least prior to the sign stealing stuff, stayed out of the baseball operations. It was awesome and a welcomed change from when McLane ran Houston.
I love this hire for the Giants. Scott Harris was an up and comer and well regarded but, come on, it was the Cubs.
Putila comes from the Astros who’ve been cranking out talent for the last several years even despite all the scandal backlash. He comes very well regarded as well.
This is a fantastic hire.
I already know Scott Harris won’t improve the Tigers . He’ll buy new furniture, decorate his office, buy clothes and shoes, travel internationally and make short vague evasive statements.
I love this hire for the Giants. Scott Harris was an up and comer and well regarded but, come on, it was the Cubs.
Putila comes from the Astros who’ve been cranking out talent for the last several years even despite all the scandal backlashes and . He comes very well regarded as well.
This is a fantastic hire.
One of the NL’s s future superteams. Farhan biding his time, waiting for his farm to burst, and then, boom.
Bud Selig Fan;
The Dodgers now have what many consider the best farm system in MLB.
Top prospect is yet another catcher.
Zaidi was dodger gm 2014-2017. Kapler was dodger director of player development 2014-2017. Funny how ZaidiKapler bashers keep pointing to Dodger organizations success while continuing to bash.
sarunas;
Not bashing at all.
Responding to the above comment that the Giants are waiting on their farm system. Meanwhile, without ZaidiKapler and drafting low for years, the Dodgers have a top ranked farm system.
As you guys say – Facts Matter.
I was a big Zaidi backer, as well as Cherrington in Pittsburgh. Both are showing signs of a lack of understanding the importance of developing a young team playing fundamental baseball.
Perhaps Mr. Putila can offer a perspective from the Astros – that stress fundamental play.
I don’t know how you can claim that Farhan is “showing signs of a lack of understanding the importance of developing a young team.”
I think he understands very well, but so far the talent that he thought would be ready aren’t—possibly because of the lost 2020 season, injuries, and other setbacks at AAA. Giants AA prospects are looking very good.
.At any rate, let’s give the guy (and his draft picks) a few years to prove that they are busts.
Great hire. Usually these deals are reached but disclosed later even with FO personnel. Yes I know the rules don’t apply to non players. Still surprised was disclosed now.
Sheeesh
Ironic. This is the guy I was hoping the tigers would get. Wasn’t as familiar with Scott Harris, but I’m not mad at that decision.
This is a big offseason for the giants, will they finally move off some of the old War Horses? Will they go big game hunting with guys like Rodon, turner, and judge. Or will overpaying Brandon Drury be the highlight of their offseason
They better not. And they better not brig back Belt. He’ll be productive (when/if he’s heatlhy) for somebody else (maybe). Time to say bye-bye.
@Pete’sView
Belt’s production days are over. He should follow Posey’s lead and retire.
You don’t know that. He said the surgery was a success and he felt great. If he wants to keep playing he should do just that, and not retire just to please some fans.
I don’t want to see him back on the Giants roster, but I hope he gets a deal where he can play in a park that isn’t so punitive to LHHs. Plus, he’s one of those guys that should greatly benefit from the extreme shifts being eliminated. He could be very productive in 2023.
Agreed, but not in a Giants uniform.
It won’t matter who he signs with. He’ll spend most of the season on the IL.
Can I borrow your crystal ball sometime? I’d really like to be able to tell people exactly what’s going to happen in the future, like you can.
@tad2b13
It’s like handicapping a horse race. Look over the past performances and access how the horse will run the race.
Belt’s past performances say there’s a very high probability he gets hurt next year. Also probably more than once. I’d put it at even money.
Oh, I see. Now it’s an opinion; odds based on past performance.
It looked to me like you were stating categorically that “He’ll spend most of the season on the IL.”
Don’t need another RHH 3b/2b
I don’t see it as a big off-season as there’s no one to sign that’s going to drastically increase your wins. Also, 81 wins seems about right as they over achieved in 21. Giants have a long way to go to compete w dodgers and pads
Big whiffa;
This is what Mr. Zaidi said 4 days ago…..
“Our fans expect a winning team, which we didn’t deliver this year,” Zaidi said. “We have to go back to the drawing board and explore every channel to get better. I expect us to be really active this offseason. We do have the flexibility to be involved in every possible option on the table, but our goal is when we get to Spring Training and Opening Day hits in 2023, we feel like we’ve got a playoff-caliber team out on the field. That’s going to drive everything we do this offseason.”
–
Along with the ML team, many in the farm system regressed in 2022.
The fans are getting impatient; either they got to the owner or he’s getting impatient as well.
–
If the Gants don’t get off the dime this looks like Paul DePodesta with the Dodgers – Billy Beane’s stat expert that couldn’t build a team on his own.
Is there ever an individual that is going to “drastically” improve your wins ?
Surely it’s about incremental improvements. I think there might be a few of those out there.
@Big whiffa
“…there’s no one to sign that’s going to drastically increase your wins.”
There’s a guy in New York who would do that.
Hexbreaker—I wish Judge alone could do that, but I’m not sure he’s even the guy the Giants should sign. Maybe along with Trea Turner, resigning Rodon and adding another everyday bat (But maybe they’ll wait to 2024 and sign Soto to join those signed in 2023.
@Pete’sView
You’re probably right. I’d love to see Soto in a Giants uni.
Judge’s WAR was 10.6 this year. The Yankees wouldn’t have won the division without him. And if the Giants had him, they would have gotten a wild card spot.
But he was also healthy all year. With his history, you have to assume he gets banged up once in a while.
Curious to see if the Yanks back up the truck or let him go.
“One of the things that really excited us about Pete is the fact that he has an extensive background in player development,” Zaidi said during a Zoom call with reporters on Monday night. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re limiting the scope to the Minor Leagues. We’ve talked a lot over the last couple of years about how much we value continued player development through and including the Major League level and think players can continue to improve. That’s really been a point of emphasis throughout Pete’s very successful career with the Astros.”
Ok then. Welcome Pete…….now get developing.
Was thinking about how disappointing this season was for the Giants–then i realized 1–they finished with a .500 record, 81-81–basically right in the middle of the league as well as right in the middle of the league in run differential–
2–about half the baseball fans teams did not do as well-
3–i would hope that a real fan would realize that 107 win season in 2021 was not sustainable-
4–skipping injuries, as all teams had them, but the Giants lost Posey to an unexpected retirement–i dont know what his value would be, but my guess is with his solid defense and clutch hitting, he would have added 3 to 5 wins to the Giants
total–so if the Giants ended up with him still there at 86 and 76, a much better season record—- it is still a drop, but again a drop from an unrealistic win total in 2021-
My point is, that even missing out on the playoffs, the Giants had a decent season when compared to a lot of other teams who were picked as playoff teams like the Twins and Red Sox–
As a fan, i understand you cant win every year, but even with the drop in wins, it was still a good season to be a Giants fan
Sadek, its funny you say that cuz after Mets lost I thought how crappy it must have felt for Mets fans to have spent all that money, at one point have best record in mlb, and then lose in WC round. So when they lost I felt similar to what you felt–Giants season not much worse than Mets season when all is said and done.
Bit there to be positive about. Estrada, Davis, Webb, Doval. Cobb and Bart fought back after tough starts.
The way the FO just worked and worked and worked was impressive. Did not stop. Even after we weee done, they immediately flipped into 2023 mode.
Bring on a FA or two.
Plus added some good relievers that were much needed. Bullpen really improved late in season. Alexander. Young. Luis forget last name. Waites from system. And let’s not forger Villar.
They did slip up by not re-signing Gausman. He would have gotten them a few more wins… maybe that last wild card spot.
Probably a matter of opinion. As a Giants fan, I’ve had my fill of long contracts for starting pitchers. Gausman was great for the Giants but 5 years is a very long time. Besides this, his 2022 replacement was arguably better. I’ll start missing Gausman when Farhan fails on the shorter term replacements.
Agreed foppert. Gausman contract was too much for too many years. Plus he stunk in playoff start
First order of business: Say goodbye to Brandon Belt.
I’m surprised no one is blaming Bob Nutting