Report: Padres grant Giants permission to interview Bob Melvin
Oct 23, 2023, 9:15 AM
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants’ search for a new manager became much more interesting.
According to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly and Dennis Lin, the San Diego Padres have granted the Giants permission to interview Bob Melvin for the managerial vacancy.
Melvin, who the Padres hired to become manager before the 2023 season, is now the front-runner to become San Francisco’s next skipper, per the report:
The Giants have requested and received permission to interview Padres manager Bob Melvin for San Francisco’s managerial opening, The Athletic has learned, potentially paving the way for Melvin to join a National League West rival following a tumultuous season in San Diego. Melvin instantly becomes the Giants’ leading candidate to replace manager Gabe Kapler, according to league sources briefed on the situation who are not authorized to speak publicly.
The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly & Dennis Lin – October 22, 2023
News from me and @dennistlin: The Padres have granted permission for the Giants to interview Bob Melvin, where he has emerged as a top candidate to replace manager Gabe Kapler.https://t.co/vQVsjKpF5J
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) October 22, 2023
The news of Melvin being granted permission to interview with the Giants doesn’t come as a surprise following offseason reports that turmoil brewing in the front office between the Padres’ manager and general manager, A.J. Preller.
Although San Diego previously announced that Melvin and Preller would return for the 2024 season, the Padres have seemingly given Melvin the green light to interview with San Francisco and decide which National League West club he will be working for come Spring Training.
Will Bob Melvin return to the Bay Area?
If Bob Melvin joins the Giants, he will return to a very familiar setting–the San Francisco Bay Area.
Melvin, a Palo Alto native who attended high school and college (Berkeley) in the Bay Area, spent ten seasons as the manager of the Oakland Athletics before taking a job with San Diego in 2022.
After taking over for Bob Geren in the middle of the 2011 season, Melvin posted an 853-764 (.528) record for Oakland over 1,617 games from 2011 through 2021.
The A’s secured three American League West championships (2012, 2013, 2020) and qualified for the postseason six times over Melvin’s 11 seasons as manager.
Seeing that the Padres have granted Melvin and the Giants permission to meet and see if a partnership fits, it’s likely that San Francisco is closing in on its replacement for Gabe Kapler with Melvin at the top of their list.
MLB Offseason Schedule
- Five days after the World Series ends – MLB free agency begins
- Five days after the World Series ends – Player and team options must be exercised or declined
- November 17th – Non-tender deadline
- December 6th – Rule 5 Draft
- Mid-February – Spring Training begins
SF Giants Schedule
- February 13-15th – Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training workouts
- February TBD – Full squad workouts
- Saturday, February 24th – Spring Training opener vs. Chicago Cubs
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