SF Giants hire first woman MLB coach Alyssa Nakken

The San Francisco Giants made baseball history Thursday, hiring the first woman to an MLB coaching staff.

Alyssa Nakken will help round out a 13-person staff as a “major league assistant coach” under first-year manager Gabe Kapler.

Giants Place Zack Cozart On Release Waivers

The Giants have placed veteran infielder Zack Cozart on release waivers following his DFA earlier this week, tweets Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Cozart never seemed particularly likely to see the field with the Giants, who have veterans Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford locked in on the left side of the diamond and promising young Mauricio Dubon likely ticketed for regular reps at second base. San Francisco’s acquisition of the veteran Cozart, rather, was a pure means of buying 2019 first-round pick Will Wilson from the Angels. The Halos, eager to move the remaining $12.167MM on Cozart’s three-year contract, sent Wilson to the Giants as the Giants picked up the remaining tab on Cozart.

Giants’ submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers explains origin of delivery

The Giants’ broadcast said they “love this guy,” upon his MLB debut. A quick inning for the pitcher with the funky movement caught their attention.

Tyler Rogers’ unique submarine delivery was one thing that stood out to those watching in addition to his ability to keep the ball on the ground.

“I went to junior college in southwest Kansas at Garden City—I was struggling throwing I guess, conventionally, if that’s what you want to call it—overhand,” Rogers said on KNBR. “I was throwing with command and getting hit.”

His coach approached him and suggested he drop down his arm after Rogers maintained his velocity of 88 mph on a straight ball.

A pitcher I’ve had the luck of seeing pitch many times in the minors- never a dull moment watching him.

The All Decade Team

Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros

Hey, another six-time All-Star and a former MVP. But unlike Posey and Votto, who have faded of late, Altuve’s still a high-end performer. The diminutive 29-year-old’s fresh off his sixth straight outstanding season after beginning his career as a fairly non-threatening hitter. Between 2014-19, Altuve hit .327/.380/.497 with 114 dingers and helped his team to a championship. He ranked fourth in the majors in fWAR (32.4) and fifth in stolen bases (179) during that span.

Madison Bumgarner leaving shows Giants now in full-blown rebuild mode

During one of his media sessions at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was asked about the team being in a rebuild. Zaidi turned the question around, asking the reporter how he would define a rebuild.

This. This is a rebuild.

Madison Bumgarner reportedly agreeing to a contract with a division rival for $85 million at the end of a week where the only team he has ever known spent $12 million to buy a first-round pick and $9 million on a pitcher who has never had sustained big league success but might turn into a back-end starter and might turn into a trade chip in July. That’s a pretty good definition of a rebuild.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with this plan.

A consideration of what this signing means, with regards to the team losing the player.

Madison Bumgarner reaches 5-year, $85M deal with D-backs | ESPN

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a five-year, $85 million deal, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Giants change bullpen location, move fences in at Oracle Park

The Giants announced on Thursday that some improvements have been made to their stadium, Oracle Park, for the 2020 season. New bullpens will be located behind the center field wall. They used to be in foul territory, which was a safety risk for players, particularly with the bullpen mounds when fielders attempted to catch foul balls.

The outfield fences are also being moved in. The left-center field fence is now 399 feet from home plate, in from 404 feet. Straightaway center field is now 391 feet, eight feet shorter than it was previously. Triples Alley is now 415 feet, in from 421. Additionally, the height of the center field fence has been reduced from eight feet to seven.

Can’t exactly say that this is a good idea- recently, the players likely to benefit from moving in the fences have all been on the other team….

Stephen Vogt thanks Giants fans, organization in goodbye tweet

SAN FRANCISCO—It’s rare for a player to come to a new team, serve as a backup, and leave at the end of September with such a high approval rating that team employees and fans openly joke about him becoming their next manager. That’s the kind of impact Stephen Vogt had in 2019.

Vogt played 99 games for the Giants but agreed to a one-year deal with the rival Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday with a vesting option for a second year. Vogt was interested in returning and the Giants liked his presence alongside Buster Posey, but he told the San Francisco Chronicle that he chose the Diamondbacks over the Giants and one other suitor.

MLB free agency: How post-Will Smith bullpen market looks for Giants

SAN FRANCISCO—The best reliever on the market came very close to being a Giant in 2020.

Will Smith told teams that he would sign the one-year qualifying offer and return to San Francisco if they did not come up with better offers, and he came pretty close to holding true to that statement. Ultimately the Atlanta Braves stepped in, giving Smith a three-year deal just before the deadline to accept the qualifying offer.

That move left the Giants with a massive hole in the ninth inning, but the bullpen issues go beyond the closer role.

The Giants had one of the National League’s best bullpens in the first half last season, but Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon and Drew Pomeranz were traded and Trevor Gott and Reyes Moronta got hurt. Of the six Giants who made at least 40 appearances out of the bullpen last year, only Gott and Tony Watson will be on the active roster on Opening Day.

Mind you, given that Will Smith basically came out of nowhere, is there a reason the Giants couldn’t do well just pulling in relievers from out of nowhere?

Baseball owners approve Johnson as Giants’ control person

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Greg Johnson was approved by the major league clubs as the new controlling owner of the San Francisco Giants.

Following the decision Thursday at the owners meetings in Arlington, Texas, Giants president and CEO Larry Baer still will represent the club at the meetings, along with Johnson and Rob Dean, who had been handling leadership duties since March. Baer was suspended without pay from March 4 through July 1 after a video showed him in a physical altercation with his wife.

Johnson is the son of Charles Johnson, part of the group including late managing partner Peter Magowan that bought the Giants in 1993 and kept them from relocating to Florida. Greg Johnson will be chairman and Dean the vice chairman, and both will be managing members, the team said in a statement.

Baer and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi will report to Johnson and Dean.

A reminder that, under current conditions, not all ownership changes involving selling a team.

Giants pick ousted Phillies manager Gabe Kapler to succeed Bruce Bochy

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants have found Bruce Bochy’s successor.

The club agreed to terms on a three-year contract with former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, who is set to become the team’s next manager. Kapler will be officially introduced at a press conference on Wednesday at Oracle Park.

Kapler emerged from a pool of at least nine candidates and was one of three who received at least two interviews for the chance to hold a job last manned by Bochy, a three-time World Series champion. The other finalists were current Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro.

“Probably the key thing that we were looking for and the most important trait if we could summarize it in one sentence for the next manager was somebody who was capable of building trust and relationships with both players and the front office,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said on a conference call with beat writers.

Ever feel like the transit commissioner on SimCity 2000?

MLB free agency: Pros, cons for Giants signing pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu

The Giants have their new general manager in Scott Harris, and are expected to announce their next manager this week. Their next move will be reshaping the roster.

San Francisco refuses to use the word “rebuild,” often leaning on a “reload” instead. Harris, who was an essential part to the Cubs becoming contenders again, said at his introductory press conference Monday that the Giants’ goal is to soon be competitive again after three straight losing seasons.

But how soon? The Giants’ farm system is on the rise, and they have seen the effects of having an aging roster the past few seasons. In free agency, however, they could hold onto their top prospects while also adding proven talent.

One free agent that MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently pegged to the Giants is a name president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is well familiar with. Should the Giants pursue Dodgers free-agent pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu?

Giants name Scott Harris General Manager

OFFICIAL: #SFGiants name Scott Harris General Manager. pic.twitter.com/EtqDsRxB8e

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) November 10, 2019

Giants won’t have any tax concerns as they dive into free agency

SAN FRANCISCO—You almost needed an accounting degree to fully understand all the offseason moves the Giants made two years ago.

The trade for Evan Longoria included nearly $15 million coming back from the Rays. The Pirates covered $2.5 million of Andrew McCutchen’s salary. When Tony Watson walked into the Scottsdale Stadium clubhouse a few days into spring training, he did so on a complicated contract that was structured to keep the Giants under the competitive balance tax line.

The CBT was mentioned often by team officials for a couple of years and was constantly lingering in the background, a penalty that colored many of the organization’s moves. That’s still the case for several teams around baseball—most notably the Red Sox, who might trade superstar Mookie Betts because of payroll concerns—but as the Giants enter Farhan Zaidi’s first full offseason in charge, they at least know they don’t have payroll concerns.

After paying the tax for three consecutive seasons, the Giants dipped just under in 2018 and didn’t come close last year. While exact numbers are not available to the public, the Giants were estimated to have a tax number of about $177 million, according to Cot’s Contracts, putting them well below the $206 million threshold. They’ll open this offseason with even more breathing room.

Mind you, if both the players they made qualifying offers to accept them, that breathing room will go away rather quickly…..

Giants pare list of managerial candidates to Gabe Kapler, two bench coaches

The Giants’ managerial search is down to three candidates, and though the club hopes to make the hire soon, team officials do not feel bound by a deadline, The Chronicle has learned.

The finalists are former Phillies manager and Dodgers farm director Gabe Kapler, Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro. Royals quality-control coach Pedro Grifol, one of the first to interview, is no longer under consideration.

Six of the eight teams that had managerial openings have filled them, leaving only the Giants and the Pirates. The Pittsburgh search has been delayed by the hiring of a general manager and team president.

So, does that give them time for another round of interviews, or two?

Sources: Giants down to three candidates in search for new manager

SAN FRANCISCO—A year ago, Larry Baer and the Giants ownership group had to wait until the end of the World Series to get a chance to hire their man. This time around, it’s Farhan Zaidi, last offseason’s big hire, who has had to be patient.

But Zaidi and the Giants appear to be zeroing in on a new manager.

According to league sources, the Giants are believed to have narrowed their search to former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol and Astros bench coach Joe Espada, who is coming in for a second in-person interview now that Houston’s bid for a title is over.

The Giants talked to Espada on the phone early in a search process that kicked into gear in the week after Bruce Bochy’s final game. Before Game 3 of the World Series, he flew from Houston to San Francisco for several hours of interviews before catching a late afternoon flight to Washington D.C.

Wait a minute- “quality control coach”?

AP Sources: Dodgers bench coach Geren interviewed by Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren is among those who have interviewed for the San Francisco Giants managerial position that was left vacant when Bruce Bochy retired following the season.

Geren met with the team last week, and former Phillies manager Gape Kapler and Astros bench coach Joe Espada also are under consideration. Two people with direct knowledge of the search, speaking on condition of anonymity because the names weren’t made public, confirmed those men had been considered. In addition, Giants coaches Ron Wotus and Hensley Meulens received interviews and so did Oakland Athletics coach Mark Kotsay.

The 44-year-old Kapler was fired Oct. 10 after two seasons in Philadelphia and a 161-163 record. With Bryce Harper their blockbuster acquisition, the Phillies finished 81-81 for their first non-losing season since 2012.

With the World Series over, let the mad rush of hires for open positions begin!

Gabe Kapler gets second interview with Giants

Craig Mish of SiriusXM is reporting that the San Francisco Giants, currently in search of their next manager, are going to interview Gabe Kapler for a second time this week.

Kapler, recently fired after two disappointing years in Philly, worked under Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi when both were with the Dodgers front office. Which, frankly, seems like the only real positive on his resume.

I realize we’re in the age of managers who are supposed to do the bidding of the front office so, if the front office knows and likes the managerial candidate really well like Zaidi apparently knows and likes Kapler, I get that Kapler might be a top choice. But I also don’t see anything from his time at the helm of the Phillies that suggests he’d be the best guy to manage the Giants whether they try to reload and win soon or whether they mount a major rebuild.

MLB rumors: Giants to interview Astros bench coach Joe Espada in person

It’s beginning to look more and more like Farhan Zaidi might have found his man.

The Giants’ search for a new manager has featured a number of candidates—from A’s quality control coach Mark Kotsay to Cubs first base coach Will Venable—interviewing to replace legendary manager Bruce Bochy. One name that has become prevalent in recent days is Astros bench coach Joe Espada.

Zaidi reportedly interviewed Espada over the phone since the Astros currently are playing the Nationals in the World Series. Espada appears to check most of the boxes for Zaidi, and the Astros bench coach is flying to San Francisco on Thursday. during Houston’s off day, for an in-person interview, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported.

Espada, 44, hasn’t managed in the big leagues yet, but he has worn just about every other hat. He has been a bench coach, a third base coach and an infield coach in the majors, as well as a hitting coach and an infield coach in the minors. He also managed in the Puerto Rico Winter League and has been a coach in the World Baseball Classic.

So, will he have to give a teaching demonstration, or will he merely need to present on his current research?

Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski not taking anything for granted after breakout year

SAN FRANCISCO—The Giants never talked of rebuilding in 2019, preferring instead to put the focus on being competitive as long as possible. But if you asked team officials for their true feelings, the sense was always that this past season was a transition year to 2020 and beyond.

In that respect, there might not have been a greater development over the course of the season than the emergence of outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. He can be Farhan Zaidi’s Northern California version of Chris Taylor or Max Muncy, older prospects who also flourished when given the opportunity to prove that they were everyday big leaguers.

Yastrzemski isn’t looking at it that way, though.

“I’m trying to take the offseason and understand that there’s a lot of work to be done still,” Yastrzemski said at the end of his first season. “It’s never being satisfied with where you are. You can’t take it for granted. It’s a time to get healthy and to get stronger and better.”

MLB rumors: Mark Kotsay entered Giants manager interviews as favorite

As the Giants watch the World Series from home, their search for a new manager continues. Replacing a legend like Bruce Bochy won’t be easy, but president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi can’t wait forever.

Interviews have begun, and the favorite coming into the process might be someone who would just have to switch sides in the Bay Area. The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported Monday that “word around the industry is that [Mark] Kotsay entered this process as a favored candidate.” One source also told Baggarly that he would be surprised if the Giants didn’t hire Kotsay.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic first reported on Oct. 9 that the Giants would interview Kotsay, who currently serves as the A’s quality control coach.

Kotsay, 43, had a 17-year MLB career where he spent four seasons—2004 through ‘07—as an outfielder for the A’s. Zaidi was a baseball operations analyst in Oakland when Kotsay played for the A’s.

For those curious as for how one of the managerial searches that has not been resolved yet seems to be going.

Do Giants’ Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto have two of worst MLB contracts?

The Giants ended the 2019 MLB season with the 13th-worst record in the league at 77-85, but the fifth-highest payroll at $178.5 million. A large chunk of that went to a pitcher who only appeared in four games this season.

Johnny Cueto has pitched in just 13 games the past two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and also has earned $21 million in each of those seasons. Cueto, 33, will be paid another $21 million by the Giants in 2020, too.

He isn’t the only aging Giant that will earn a large chunk of change next season. Michael Ginnitti of the contract expert website Spotrac lists two Giants in his 10 toughest MLB contracts for 2020. Joining Cueto on the list is catcher Buster Posey.

For the fifth straight season, Posey, who mainly batted in the middle of the Giants lineup this season, saw his power numbers dip to a staggering career low. The former NL MVP only hit seven home runs this year—actually up from five in 2018—but drove in just 38 runs and had a .368 slugging percentage.

So, how many rival contracts could we argue have this honor?

MLB rumors: Giants to interview ex-Phillies skipper Gabe Kapler for open managerial position

For the first time in more than a decade, the San Francisco Giants are on the hunt for a new manager. Future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy retired at season’s end, vacating a position he had occupied since 2007. Over the interim period, he won three World Series titles and finished with a 1,052-1,054 regular-season mark.

It’s unclear who Farhan Zaidi, now in his first full offseason as the Giants’ main decision maker, will hire when all is said and done. But we are gaining insight into who Zaidi intends to consider.

On Saturday, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that Zaidi and the Giants will interview former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler. Kapler, dismissed earlier in the week, is familiar with Zaidi from their shared time together in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Well, this could get interesting…..

Which managerial opening is the most desirable?

As we wait for tonight’s NLCS to kick off — a preview on that will be up later this morning — let’s talk about all the managerial openings, shall we?

With the Dodgers giving Dave Roberts their vote of confidence last night — and none of the remaining playoff teams being even close to likely to can their current skipper — we seem to be locked in at eight openings: Mets, Phillies, Pirates, Cubs, Giants, Padres, Royals, and Angels.

Which one is the most desirable? My take on the pros and cons of each gig

So, which of these jobs would you take if you had the choice?

RIP to our friend, Bob Tufts

In 2009, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He underwent pill-based and liquid chemotherapy and reached a recovery point at which he could undergo and autologous stem cell transplant. As of May 2010, he was in almost complete remission.[citation needed]

Tufts was a patient advocate and founder of My Life Is Worth It. He was an active speaker and frequently tweeted about issues regarding the need to involve patients more in the healthcare process.[citation needed]

Tufts died on October 4, 2019, from an infection brought on by complications from a stem cell transplant on August 23.[9][10] He was 63.

I was surprised to run across his “In Memoriam” on bb-ref and I hadn’t seen any mention on BBTF, so forgive me if I’m doubling up.