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 promotes former NL MVP and three-time World Series champion Buster Posey to Zaidi’s lead baseball operation.

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 one NL West division title. Their surprising 107-55 record in 2021 was the only season in which San Francisco finished above .500.

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.

Contract extension negotiations with third baseman Matt Chapman may have indicated Posey’s future in player personnel or baseball operations. The Giants wanted to sign Chapman to an extension during a bounce-back season in which he hit 27 home runs and 39 doubles with 78 RBI and 15 stolen bases, but Zaidi and agent Scott Boras could not agree on a deal.

Frustrated by the stalemate, the Giants’ board of directors intervened, with Posey taking an active role in contract talks, 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 more conditions 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 deal with the Giants.

The difficulties with Chapman highlighted previous problems Zaidi had 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 issues.

Zaidi found success in waiting out the free agent frenzy and landing short-term buys 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 at the Giants who can only flourish elsewhere. Posey and team ownership clearly want to aim higher with better results.

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

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