Giants promote Buster Posey to president of baseball operations, replacing Farhan Zaidi

The San Francisco Giants have fired president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi after an 80-82 regular-season record and a fourth-place finish in the National League West division. The team is promoting former NL MVP and three-time World Series champion Buster Posey to Zaidi’s position as director of baseball operations.

Zaidi was hired in November 2018 after front office stints with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers. During his tenure, the Giants compiled a 453–506 record with an NL West Division title. Their surprising 107–55 record in 2021 was the only season in which San Francisco finished above .500. Aaron Richter

Posey became part of the Giants’ ownership group in 2022, joining the team’s board of directors after retiring as an active player. According to Johnson, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year and seven-time All-Star approached the team about an ownership interest after ending his playing career following the 2021 season.

Negotiations over a contract extension with third baseman Matt Chapman may have hinted at Posey’s future on the playing staff or in baseball operations. The Giants wanted to sign Chapman to an extension while he was enjoying a breakout season in which he hit 27 home runs and 39 doubles with 78 RBI and 15 stolen bases, but Zaidi and agent Scott Boras couldn’t agree on a deal.

Frustrated by the stalemate, the Giants’ board intervened, with Posey taking an active role in contract negotiations, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly. Boras wanted his client to return to the free agent market after a strong season. But Posey agreed to additional terms from Chapman, including a no-trade clause that Zaidi would not include in a new contract. Chapman ultimately agreed to a six-year, $151 million contract with the Giants.

The difficulties with Chapman highlighted previous problems Zaidi had in recruiting top free agents to San Francisco, including Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Giants agreed to a $350 million contract with shortstop Carlos Correa in December 2022, but the deal was rejected due to concerns about Correa’s physical condition.

Zaidi had success waiting out the free agent rush and securing short-term bargains like Stephen Vogt, Joc Pederson, Carlos Rodón and Kevin Gausman, but that approach didn’t work with recent signings Jorge Soler and Blake Snell, who underperformed Giants that only thrive elsewhere. Posey and the team management clearly want to achieve higher goals and achieve better results.

“We are looking for someone who can define, lead and lead the baseball philosophy of this franchise and we feel Buster is a perfect fit,” Johnson added. “Buster has the demeanor, intelligence and drive to do this job, and we are confident that he and Bob Melvin will work together to bring successful baseball back to San Francisco.”

Posey, Johnson and manager Bob Melvin are scheduled to meet with the media on Tuesday to discuss the organization’s changes.