In two years, Buster Posey has joined the San Francisco Giants’ ownership group, moving from being a member of the board of directors to now taking on the role of president of baseball operations.
As the Giants missed the MLB playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons, Farhan Zaidi will leave the team for the first time in six years, and Posey will continue. After winning the National League West in 107 games just two seasons ago, the 2023 season marks the team’s lowest number of wins in a full season (79 games) since 2019 (77 games).
Posey, 37, is three years removed from retirement after spending 12 seasons in the MLB with San Francisco. He won Rookie of the Year, MVP and three World Series titles, but now the former catcher is tasked with turning around the franchise’s fortunes and bringing winning baseball back to the region. That’s what drew him to this job.
“Having an opportunity to be a part of a team, an opportunity to elevate our staff and players. We’re in the business of making memories,” Posey said during his induction press conference Tuesday. “Sure, winning is nice and ultimately that’s our goal, but the overall picture of being part of something bigger than yourself is really appealing.”
Posey is already on the current Giants roster. In early September, the team announced a contract extension for Matt Chapman, after Zaidi led negotiations from the team’s side with little agreement, and after working with Posey and agent Scott Boras. It was a culmination.
Posey is now fully in that role and will be looking to hire the team’s next general manager as Pete Petilla is up for reappointment within the organization.
Regarding what he wants from a GM, Posey said, “I want a servant leader who can empower people.” “Ideally, someone with a scouting background is important to me as well. Today’s game is so important to mesh what you see with your own eyes and your intuition with what the data is telling you.”
San Francisco Giants director of baseball operations Buster Posey speaks with people after a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Posey’s transition from player to influential executive may raise eyebrows around the league, but Posey said he will use the experience of those around him in his decision-making.
In addition to hiring a GM, high on Posey’s to-do list is retaining pitcher Blake Snell. The 31-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner signed a two-year, $62 million contract with the Giants in March with a player option for 2025. Perhaps Snell will opt out and choose to test for free. agent market.
Although Snell struggled in the first half, he finished the 2024 season strong and is poised to make money this winter. The Giants expect him to be high on their list of potential transfer targets.
“He’s obviously someone that’s going to be a priority for us to seriously consider,” Posey said.
Posey has a vision of what a competitive team should be. Six of his first full MLB seasons ended with the Giants winning, and three of them won the title. With some shrewd moves this offseason, it doesn’t have to be a long-term project to build a consistently winning team in San Francisco again.
“Hopefully that’s how it will be – and I know [Giants manager] bob [Melvin] “What you get out of your experience as a player is if you went into a game and you knew you were ready to do it to the best of your ability, regardless of the outcome or outcome of the game,” Posey said. I was satisfied with the game.
“I hope our players can get there and it will be very important for them as well.”
