Giants skipper Bruce Bochy recently recorded his 2000th victory behind the reins of a big league dugout–a nice capstone to what has largely been expected to be his final season as a manager. However, with the firing of Andy Green in San Diego, speculation has already mounted around a potential Bochy-San Diego reunion. As we previously relayed from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Bochy is indeed on the Padres shortlist of potential Green replacements, and reporters, including Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, were quick to press Bochy today on his willingness to don Padre brown in 2020 (link).
“I’m not even going there,” Bochy said when asked about the San Diego opening, “I’m concentrating here right now doing what I’m supposed to do. That’s the last thing on my mind right now, as much as we’re in the last week here.”
While Bochy didn’t even want to entertain the possibility of an intra-division heel-turn, it’s worth noting that he has not necessarily ruled out a return to managing. Back in Spring Training, Schulman relays that Bochy said “Never is a long time” when he was asked if 2019 would truly be his final season as a manager. As San Diego’s skipper from 1995 to 2006, Bochy amassed a 951-975 managerial record–a stretch that also contained one Manager of the Year award in 1996 and an NL pennant in 1998.
Besides his history with the organization, a few other factors may fuel Bochy-to-San Diego rumors in the short term. For one, the February announcement of Bochy’s retirement coincided with San Francisco’s integration of Farhan Zaidi as President of Baseball Operations this past November; although team officials dispelled notions at the time that Bochy was politely nudged toward the door with Zaidi’s arrival in SF, changes in leadership do often precipitate changes at the managerial level. Secondly, it’s also fair to note that Bochy makes his offseason home in the San Diego exurb of Poway, so speculation will likely continue until he definitively declines consideration for the Padres job.
For what it’s worth, Bob Nightengale of USA Today divulged this afternoon that San Diego was eating about $2.5MM in firing Green with two years left on his contract (link). Terms of Green’s 2017 managerial extension had been previously unreported, so the revelation of his approximately $1.25MM yearly salary may be relevant in trying to pinpoint his potential successor. Bochy has been performing under a $6MM per annum contract with San Francisco since the 2017 season, so a southbound move to San Diego would require either a substantial pay cut for Bochy or an unprecedented budgetary bump from the Padre ownership group.
jorge78
Is he smart?
Dingerz
If batting buster posey third every other game counts then yeah
HalosHeavenJJ
You mean smart enough to see a stacked farm system in SD and a barren one in SF?
As much as I like SF (dad is a fan) is much rather have SD’s near term.
Frisco500
Barren farm in SF? That socal sun bleached your brain. SF’s farm made HUGE strides this year. And have a mastermind in the FO. They’ll be just fine pal.
Show Me Your Tatis
Same mastermind that held onto Bumgarner and Smith at the deadline and is now set to lose them for nothing?
Oxford Karma
For 3-5 years down the road they have improved. For right now, next year, you’d much prefer the Padres situation. If bochy comes back, it’s 2-3 years, tops.
SFGiants74
Bumgarner won’t leave. Smith’s health is in question.
SFGiants74
What’s to like about the Pad’s situation. Machado, Hosmer, Myers. Why would he want to deal with that mess.
Dingerz
We should’ve traded him but because of one fluke Ziadi thought we could make the postseason
Show Me Your Tatis
@Vince If you are so sure that Bumgarner won’t leave then the decision to not trade him looks even worse. Could have pulled a Chapman and traded him for a haul of prospects then brought him back as a FA.
nowheretogobutup
Mastermind in the FO, LOL, we’;ll see in three yrs if he is a brain child
bucnole31658
San Francisco has one of the worst farm systems in baseball. That’s just facts
bucnole31658
They are loaded in young talent. The Padres are the young team to watch the next 2-3 years
SFGiants74
SD has proven they still can’t win.
jakeryan760
They don’t even have half of their starting rotation in MLB yet and most of their bulpen just got called up at the end of the season. Don’t sit there and try and act like you know, nor care, what the Padres are doing.
amk3510
Even though that comment seems pretty dismissive it still raises some eyebrows. Why not just say you are calling it quits for good?
Show Me Your Tatis
What exactly would he gain by doing that?
Dodgerbluelifer
Well you are the one who keeps saying he’s retiring over and over again whenever someone mentions his name as a potential replacement. So the fact that he didn’t outright say that he’s not interested and that he’s retiring leaves the door open after the season concludes.
Show Me Your Tatis
Like amk said, his comments sound pretty dismissive.
And he has nothing to gain by burning bridges.
RT1
What bridge is he burning? He has nothing to gain by staying @ the giants.
Priggs89
If he’s “Retiring. Period.” why would he need to “gain” anything?
Show Me Your Tatis
That doesn’t answer my question.
Priggs89
That doesn’t answer my question.
If you can tell me why he’s trying to gain anything when he’s “retiring. Period,” I’ll more than happily answer your question. Seeing as the only answer to my question invalidates your question, I won’t hold my breath waiting.
sleepyfloyd
You’re arguing against yourself because no one really cares
Show Me Your Tatis
Ah. So you don’t have an answer. Why didn’t you just say so?
I rest my case. He’s retiring.
Show Me Your Tatis
What was the point of extending Green for that long?
GaryWarriorsRedSoxx
It’s your team, you tell us.
Banesays
I thought Preller was a genius? Not so much here?
Show Me Your Tatis
When did I say he was? Best case scenario for you is I have made my opinion known on the rare occasion that he made a move that I liked (drafting MacKenzie Gore, the Hand extension, Solarte extension, signing Machado).
jekporkins
I got a feeling he’s going there.
Is it a pay cut? Yes.
Would he get $6 million managing anywhere? No.
Big paydays for managers is passe now.
antibelt
I think it’s a prime position for any manager to walk into. Everyone knows he was forced into retirement rather than getting terminated at the end of last year when Farhan came aboard. As a Giants fan, loved having him as a manager, and respect him if he chooses to continue managing.
Show Me Your Tatis
Bochy could haved stayed in SF as long as he wanted.
robbiecraig
He doesn’t own the Giants.
Show Me Your Tatis
Doesn’t have to. If he hadn’t CHOSEN to retire they’d have let him stay as long as he wanted.
sleepyfloyd
I don’t think it worked out quite that way. Zaidi came in and it was announce by the team Bochy would retire after this season.
Sometimes it’s just time with one team and it’s only logical that Z would want his own guy.
Show Me Your Tatis
He’s retiring because of his health and to spend time with his family.
Buzz Saw
Thank you! Finally someone who has actually been paying attention. His health had been declining and he just can’t do the daily grind any longer.
nowheretogobutup
OK show me Tatis you must have some insight none of us have, are you a fortune teller? do you have a crystal ball? maybe your Boch’s next door neighbor but if your none of these you don’t have a clue what he’s going to do. So if you have the answer who’s going to be the next Mgr.?
Show Me Your Tatis
Oddly enough, I found that it’s people who things like “Do you have a crystal ball?” and “Are you his next door neighbor or something?” who have the least compelling arguments to make.
Bochy literally said before the season started that he’s retiring. His health isn’t great right now and he wants to focus on that.
bucnole31658
Actually no they didn’t want him back this year but they gave him a farewell tour. He was gone one way or the other
Show Me Your Tatis
Where’s your proof that they didn’t want him back and he was gone one way or the other?
Dodgerbluelifer
Whenever a new GM or President of Baseball Operations comes in they want to pick their own guy, but because Bochy has been so popular it’d be sacrilegious to fire him before his contract was over. Add that on top of the Giants are in full rebuild mode and have no chance of contending anytime soon it made no sense to bring Bochy back for any longer at any length or cost of contract compared to what he’s already making. So the most logical solution for both parties was to let the contract play out and then Farhan can select the manager of his choosing without an all out revolt from the SF fan base. Heck I think Farhan even did him a favor by not trading everyone away at the deadline and going for the wild card even though realistically they never stood a chance.
Show Me Your Tatis
Those other managers weren’t Hall of Famers. Bochy let himself out.
bradthebluefish
Exactly!
CobiEven
This. I said from day 1 Bochy would manage the Padres next year. Only like two others agreed with me.
Giants fans need to get over themselves. Their beloved HoF manager will be coaching near his home next year. You guys should be happy for him.
scottn59c
I don’t think that’s true. I think the hiring of Zaidi spelled the end, at least as far as Giants ownership/management was concerned.
He’s respected in SF, but also an old-legion, old-school manager. Zaidi is building an analytics-driven team and Bochy is in the way of that.
Show Me Your Tatis
Bochy is a hero in SF. They never would have fired him.
em650r
Boch is going home. He will be calling games in year from now
Dodgerbluelifer
Exactly they would never fire him and with Farhan being hired this past off season to be their President of Baseball Operations and oversee a full rebuild it made sense to let Bochy’s contract play out this year. I highly doubt that Bochy had any interest in resigning with SF to go through that kind of losing year in and year out until they’re relevant again when he’s already 64, but again I can’t speak for him as I’m not him, I can only assume. Padres being up and coming and him living in the San Diego area it just makes sense that he’d be open to it. I’m not saying the Padres are going to hire him as their next manager, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Show Me Your Tatis
What part of “He’s retiring” do you troglodytes not understand?
Dodgerbluelifer
Specifically the retiring part if we need to be specific.
SFGiants74
Bochy was raised in France. He has said would like to manage the French WBC team.
Show Me Your Tatis
@em650r He’s going home alright. To fish and watch the games on the couch.
sleepyfloyd
What makes you think he wants to do that? He’d easily have won the east this year with the Mets pitching and hitting. He can still manage somewhere else on his terms
stubby66
Personally SF should have traded Bochy to Washington for a very high prospect then maybe Washington could’ve gotten some place in the playoffs. Would’ve been a great story to see him take that talented team far.
robbiecraig
Said during his “retirement” announcement:
“I’m not going anywhere. I don’t have any cruises planned, trust me, I don’t plan on going up Mount Everest. Baseball, that’s my life. I’ll be around,” Bochy said. “I don’t have a bucket list. There’s no hidden agenda in all this, trust me.”
Doesn’t sound like fishing and watching games on the couch to me.
Show Me Your Tatis
Says nothing about wanting to manage again either.
robbiecraig
My bad, I forgot he had to explicitly say it.
Show Me Your Tatis
How’s this for explicitly saying it?
twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1097578426980958208
Now where’s your quote straight from the horse’s mouth that he isn’t actually retiring?
antibelt
Show me your tatis, you’ve become very annoying. All of this is speculation, yet you talk down to everyone on here. If you knew anything about baseball, you’d know anything is a possibilty. These guys don’t like leaving the game. It’s all they’ve known since they were kids. You’re not inside his head, so do is a favor and keep your hamds away from the keyboard.
Show Me Your Tatis
Cry about it.
Dingerz
He’s annoying for stating a fact that he’s not coming back? Who wants a manger that bats buster posey third anyways? Ok I like Bochy and I’m sad he’s retiring but he needs to live in the present a little more and bat posey in the bottom of the order
Show Me Your Tatis
Seems only yesterday they had to tie Bruce down and write Posey’s name in the lineup in permanent marker to get him to stop playing Bengie Molina over him.
antibelt
Stupid comment. They kept Buster down long enough to keep him an extra year. He was called in May. Molina actaully had a good season thatbyear and the year prior. In favt, he was the catcher for the Rangers later that year. Know your fact.
Show Me Your Tatis
IIRC Bochy kept playing him even after Posey came up and they traded him so that Bochy would have no choice but to play Posey.
snotrocket
Agreed, even though I think he is done and this is nothing more than media hype.
Padres r knocking on the door
About 3 months ago, Bochy was on San Diego 1360 saying he still want’s to be involved in baseball; using Trevor Hoffman’s role with the Padres as an example. I’d be shocked if he didn’t take a position with the Padres in some front office role over the next couple of years, if not this offseason.
julyn82001
Bochy won 3 championship with the Giants… He did pretty well… Last 2-3 years has not been has planned but one can’t pretend winning every year, it’s not realistic. He is a SF guy forever…
scottn59c
So are Hunter Pence, Sergio Romo, Tim Lincecum, etc. They’re Forever Giants, but they kept going after changing uni’s. Bochy is allowed to too.
carneylansford80
good point
padreforlife
Has Bochy done anything since 2014?
jakeryan760
He hasn’t been able to. The Giants got old (while still competitive every year) their farm was never developed and any trade stock slowly declined. Heck, I’d say without Bochy, the Giants might have done a lot worse the last 5 years. He constant keeps them in the hunt some how. The Giants realize that rebuild is inevitable, and this is the end.
30 Parks
Padres are ordering size eight hats right now.
seamaholic 2
Well, San Diego is the far better job, so it makes sense. Probably had it in mind all along.
Melchez
Bochy to the Padres… He brings along Bumgarner.
Xavier Blaine
Lol…
Steven Chinwood
That’s not far fetched at all.
amk3510
Espically Bumgarner. They are one of the few teams that will be willing to overpay for his past and the need is there
Show Me Your Tatis
laughingduck
jakeryan760
bro, we understand your view on his retirement. I’ve heard and read what you have. It’s not a fore sure thing either way, id say much more leaning toward a FOH position which is has said would interest him. However, you don’t know what they are offering (if they even are) so give people the ability to voice their opinion without degrading them. Your just coming off as arrogant.
Show Me Your Tatis
My what is just coming off as arrogant?
And it’s not my view. I have provided you with the quote from Twitter more than once.
Now where is you straight from the horse’s mouth quote that Bochy isn’t actually retiring?
seaver41
Green firing resets everything- Bochy should consider it if he has any doubt about retirement
blackleather
I love Boch’. As a longtime Padre fan, I saw him manage some flat out horrible Padre teams. So I was thrilled he got his rings in SF. But as much as I’d like to see him return to SD, I just have a feeling, the Padre owners will go with someone far less obvious, like Girardi or maybe even Ron Washington, who had a ton of history with Preller in Texas. I’d be fine with either. But for the love of God, NO MORE ROOKIE MANAGERS in PadreLand, please. And with fingers crossed, here’s to hoping Seidler tells Preller “go get Bruce Bochy…and bring him back home”.
Show Me Your Tatis
It’s going to be a rookie manager.
And the Preller-Texas connection is played out at this point.
nowheretogobutup
It won’t be a rookie Mgr. I say Ron Washington, Showalter or Boch and more than likely a three yr deal for $9MM with bonuses for Playoffs and WS appearance.
Show Me Your Tatis
Yes it will be a rookie manager. Teams aren’t interested in old school guys like Washington anymore. Only two who have been hired in the 2010s are Dusty Baker, who got axed after two years and Ron Gardenhire, who it’s pretty certain will be cut loose once the Tigers think they are ready to return to relevance in the AL Central.
And for the last time, BOCHY. IS. RETIRING!!!!!!!!
jakeryan760
Maddon?
amk3510
They had a great rookie manager waiting in the wings but they kicked him to the curb. That Dave Roberts guy
Dodgerbluelifer
Dave is good at being the manager of a very analytical driven front office, but he makes questionable decisions especially with the bullpen and relies on guys for too long when they don’t have it. He’s not the worst, but I also wouldn’t say he’s the best in my honest opinion.
Show Me Your Tatis
With that roster all Dave can really do is not screw things up.
DarkSide830
if he is willing to keep going it should be interesting to see where he might why to go. Id love him over Kapler but that’s obviously quite unlikely.
hoosierhysteria
From the inside: manny would not talk to Andy green. Loafer….now a coach killer. Preller should have hired doc Roberts
Joe Costello
I appreciate the heel turn comment
GOUSA9
Homecoming for Boch and respect from the players. Sign Cole and bring up Gore and the Dodgers are not so mighty anymore.
stubby66
Your right especially since the Brewers go to the World series.
VegasSDfan
The Padres performed better with small ball, speed, hits, and guys on base. Manufacture runs. Pitching and defense, plus timely hits.
I would say they are a manager, a starting pitcher, and a set bullpen away from the playoffs.
nowheretogobutup
They need more depth in the OF, Myers stinks, Renfore K’s far too often, Maragot needs to hit at least .270 to lead off. So I’d add at least one OF to that list, two SP’s not one and a Mgr that commands respect. If they can trade Myers for another high paid player out there who is underperforming do it.
jakeryan760
They still have Trammell and CJ abrams that they could use, and Buddy Reed (as a 4th) I say they go after Bryant or Betts though, add an ACE and they will be good to go.
nowheretogobutup
That would be 2010 the last time they really played small ball and I agree it was exciting except for the last two weeks
Frisco500
I’d be pretty surprised. I guess we’ll see. It would be tough to see him in the visitors dugout, on the flipside more power to him if he wants to continue in the game… and closer to home. Imagine him coaxing Flan away from his music career!! Either way, the Future HOF manager has been a joy to watch. Respect.
TeeBallChampion
Dear MLB Trade Rumors,
Please stop getting our hopes up.
Sincerely,
The Padres Fanbase
Show Me Your Tatis
Bruce Bochy is retiring. He will never manage again.
There you go.
nowheretogobutup
OK just keep saying it and I am sure your upside down looking through rose colored glasses, are you his son or nephew? if not get off your rant thank you
Show Me Your Tatis
You’re 12, so there’s really no point in responding. But Bochy literally said he’s retiring.
twitter.com/SFGiants/status/1097578426980958208
I have provided you with the quote straight from the horse’s mouth. So take a seat.
jakeryan760
So did Bret Farve and Michael Jordan.
SFGiants74
Bochy piloted the Padres to the best season ever. Then they dumped him. Why would he want to go back to a team that underperformed. He is beyond coaching a bunch of deadbeats.
padreforlife
Best season ever was littered with juicers including MVP who passed away
missjill2u
To me Bochy seems to have a lot of integrity (of course I don’t know him). It would seem out of character to me that he’d accept all of these farewell gifts and accolades from other teams if he were going to manage a team again. Yes, he’d already made his retirement announcement before the Padres job opened up. He’d have to return a lot of booze! Aaawwwwkkkkwwwwaaaarrrrrdddd! He may play some role in baseball and a few miles from his house makes sense. But the big job? I’m thinking no
nowheretogobutup
Nothing is awkard when it comes to a contract for three yrs for $9MM, come on man, he said he was still looking to be involved in baseball read his statement
padreforlife
Bingo but Padres aren’t making that type of offer