Ten potential candidates Posey could consider for the Giants GM job originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – When the Giants hired Farhan Zaidi in 2018, the announcement came after the annual General Managers Meetings had already begun in Carlsbad, which led to some awkwardness.
The organization arrived at the meetings without the head of baseball operations, and Zaidi was eventually introduced in San Francisco on the same day that 29 other executives met with reporters and agents in Carlsbad. This time, the Giants got the big decision out of the way early.
The press release announcing Zaidi’s resignation also introduced Buster Posey as the new president of baseball operations. Within minutes of taking his seat at a podium, Posey announced he would be looking for someone to replace general manager Pete Putila, who has been reassigned. Posey plans to represent the Giants at the key offseason events, so there’s technically no rush to land a No. 2, but still, given all that’s ahead of him, the Giants are looking to hire a new executive before flying to San Antonio. early November for the GM Meetings.
The decision to go with Posey instead of an outsider limits the pool of potential candidates somewhat, as the Giants can’t poach someone else’s GM to work alongside Posey. However, there are plenty of qualified assistants and former team leaders, and Posey has made it clear he has a certain type in mind.
“I think someone with a scouting background will be important to me,” he told NBC Sports Bay Area earlier this month. “I think someone is relatable, someone who can not only empower the players or agents they come into contact with, but who can also identify with the guys and girls on our coaching staff, our medical staff and our strength staff. Because everyone from Those people are so important for us to achieve our ultimate goal.”
As the Giants dive into their search, here are some potential candidates…
Billy Owens
An early frontrunner, Owens worked across the Bay for 26 years and was assistant GM in Oakland for the past eight years. Previously, he was a minor league hitting coach, area scout, scouting coordinator and director of player personnel. Giants officials were certainly impressed this season with the newest collection of young talent on the A’s roster, and Owens has existing relationships with manager Bob Melvin and third baseman Matt Chapman, who has taken on a leadership role in the clubhouse .
The previous regime?
Look, the Giants love a reunion more than anyone. Even Zaidi got involved, bringing Sergio Romo and Pablo Sandoval to camp the past two seasons.
Friends of Brian Sabean say the only GM to win a title in San Francisco would like to return at some point, though he would be better suited in an advisory role. The same could be true of former general manager Bobby Evans, who has interacted with Posey and can bring valuable experience dealing with agents and other front offices. Evans was the point person for most negotiations during his time in the Giants front office.
If Posey wants his general manager to come from the front office that drafted him, Jeremy Shelley is the way to go. The assistant GM has been with the Giants for 30 years and may know more about their baseball operations department than anyone in the world. He was mentioned several times during Posey’s press conference and should at least be given the opportunity to interview. Regardless of his title, he is a key figure in the new front office.
Ross Fenstermaker
The Granite Bay native and UC Davis alum just completed his 14th year with the Rangers, rising from intern to assistant general manager. Fenstermaker started as a scout and was director of international and professional scouting, and he was part of the small group that flew to Nashville a few years ago to convince Bruce Bochy to come out of retirement and manage the Rangers. He also has ties to some current Giants staffers.
Fenstermaker would check a lot of boxes, and he comes from a front office that has managed to deliver in free agency at a time when the Giants are consistently falling short of their top targets.
Amiel Sawdaye
In luring Zaidi, the Giants hoped to emulate much of what the Dodgers have done. But perhaps the Diamondbacks, who have rebuilt their farm system and replenished the big league roster with smart trades, are a better model. Sawdaye spent 15 seasons in Boston before moving to Arizona in 2016 and was instrumental in drafting players who helped the Diamondbacks reach the World Series last season.
In Arizona, Sawdaye oversees amateur and international scouting. The Giants interviewed him in 2018.
Kim Ng
Ng, the first woman to serve as MLB general manager, previously served as assistant GM for the Yankees and Dodgers. She was interviewed by the Giants in 2018 and went on to help get the Marlins to the postseason, but the way things ended there could be an indication that the Giants might not be the perfect fit this time around. When Ng parted ways with the Marlins last season, it was reportedly because they planned to hire a president of baseball operations as her boss, and that’s the setup the Giants will have.
James Harris
Cleveland’s assistant GM was reportedly a finalist to become Houston’s general manager a year ago. He has a unique background, having worked for the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles before starting in baseball with the Pirates, but the Guardians are as hot as anyone right now, so he’s certainly intriguing. Harris was a candidate when the Giants were looking for a new GM in 2022.
Eva Rosenbaum
The Orioles assistant GM also had stints in the commissioner’s office and with the Astros, where she gained experience in international scouting. When Mike Elias went from Houston to Baltimore, Rosenbaum joined him and got the opportunity to work for her hometown team, which develops young position players better than anyone. Like Harris, she was a candidate for the job that went to Putila in 2022.
The Jon Watson
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Watson is a special assignment scout for the Astros. He previously served as director of player development for the Washington Nationals.
Carlos Rodríguez
When ownership moved in a new direction in 2018, the Rays were an organization they talked about often, and they almost hired Chaim Bloom from Tampa before choosing Zaidi, who interviewed Rays coach Matt Quatraro before hiring Gabe Kapler . Rodriguez has been with the Rays for more than a decade and is currently assistant GM and vice president of baseball operations, and he certainly has the background Posey is looking for. He was an area scout for the Blue Jays and an international scout for the Rays before becoming director of Latin American scouting and then director of international scouting.
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