Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi inked a five-year deal over the 2018-19 offseason when he was hired away from the Dodgers to lead the front office. He’s now headed into the final guaranteed year of that contract, but his job security doesn’t appear to be at issue.
Team chairman Greg Johnson told Andrew Baggarly of the Athletic this week that Zaidi’s contract contains a previously unreported club option for the 2024 season. Johnson was unequivocal about the organization’s intent to keep the baseball ops president around beyond this season. “I can tell you that (Zaidi) is 100 percent here through the end of next season. We do have an option,” Johnson said. He added the team is interested in working out a longer-term extension with Zaidi “in the near future,” though he didn’t specify whether the sides have yet opened that dialogue.
San Francisco has only had one playoff appearance in the four seasons since Zaidi was hired. He joined the organization on the heels of a 73-win season, though, leaving an uphill path to immediate contention. After a pair of slightly below-average showings in 2019-20, the ’21 club broke out with one of the best seasons in franchise history. They won 107 games, snapping the Dodgers’ streak of eight consecutive division titles, before dropping a closely contested Division Series against their archrivals.
While the arrow seemed pointed straight up 12 months ago, the Giants disappointed with a .500 showing in 2022. A few games out of the playoff mix at last summer’s deadline, the club moved some role players but held onto key impending free agents like Carlos Rodón and Joc Pederson. Rodón, who’d signed a two-year deal with an opt-out in one of last offseason’s best additions, departed after rejecting a qualifying offer. Pederson accepted a QO and returns for 2023.
San Francisco entered this winter with an abundance of payroll space and an obvious desire to land a top-tier talent. Despite a spirited pursuit of Aaron Judge and their near-deal with Carlos Correa, they ultimately missed out on a top-of-the-market pickup. Instead, the Giants wound up spreading their resources around. Mitch Haniger (three years, $43.5MM with an opt-out after 2024), Michael Conforto (two years, $36MM with a conditional opt-out after 2023), Taylor Rogers (three years, $33MM), Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling (both two years, $25MM with opt-out chances) all joined the organization.
San Francisco has had success in the middle tiers of free agency, particularly with signings of Kevin Gausman and Rodón. The bullpen and position player group have been less consistent over the past couple seasons. A lineup heavily reliant on platoon matchups fired on all cylinders in 2021 but was a middle-of-the-road group last year. The Giants also had one of the worst team defenses in the league in 2022.
Whether San Francisco did enough to compete with the Dodgers and Padres at the top of the division remains to be seen. They’re generally viewed as a step or two below those other clubs, with both Baseball Prospectus and FanGraphs projecting them around average this year.
Regardless of how competitive the club is in 2023, they should be well-positioned to again make a run at elite free agents next winter. It certainly seems it’ll be a Zaidi-led front office making those decisions again, although that won’t be official until an extension is reached or the team formally exercises the option. As Baggarly points out, manager Gabe Kapler is signed through 2024, so San Francisco can keep their leadership structure in place for at least two more seasons if ownership remains happy with the organizational direction.
Extend Zaidi now, I love him!
Same, love Zaidi!!
Don’t see any logical reason why
I’ve seen your comments #firefarhan. “Logical” isn’t really your strong suit.
#disatvantage Sorry if my logic contradicts your emotional take.
#FF, That’s funny. You criticize FZ for things you assume he will do in the future, not that he’s actually done, And yet you accuse others of having an emotional take.
You might, but the vast majority of us Giants fans are quite sick of flailing Farhan’s bs.
why do you somehow think you are the “vast majority”
@Ballbag I didn’t claim that I myself am the majority. I just am aware of my surroundings
I’m a fan of Farhan. They need to rebuild a destitute farm and that simply doesn’t happen overnight especially when you’re in the grey area of wildcard contention in the interim.
You must not like playoff baseball.
You guys love him lol. Weird.
He reminds me of Chaim Bloom. As of the last year and where the clubs have been, they’ve had a similar way of dealings and signings.
Farhan is already searching for his replacement via the Waiver Wire.
Hopefully
Lol
He believes in composting, mostly when building a lineup but where his food is concerned as well. He patrons public transportation, mostly the capitol coridor Amtrak between San Francisco and the Rivercats in Sacramento but some times to San Jose as well. And knows how to properly blame the previous administration for all his faults years after he’s been at the helm.
Shoney’s I love their breakfast buffet! If Farhan can get us a shoney’s in California I may just change my tune about him.
If he has options they might just keep him, hopefully they will send him down in July so he can’t mess up the trade deadline.
Giants don’t stand out to me one way or the other so probably best to keep their staff.
No, please no
I can hear the hand wringing and gnashing of teeth in San Francisco from 500 miles away.
This is fuqued
Farhan Zaidi. LOL
Dude in entering his 5th and has only posted a winning record above .500 one time.
Giants ownership likes him because he’s he’s a CheapAsss
Plus he checks all the boxes that the lefties look for.
Why don’t you elaborate on that?
@Milt, Just like the coaching staff
Most of us Giants fans want him gone, trust me
#ff
It seems like everything the Giants did do, you complain about it. And everything the Giants didn’t do… you complain about it.
So if you were GM or PoBO this off-season for the Giants, what would you have done that would’ve improved the team?
#disadvantage
It only seems that way to a biased eye, who doesn’t really pay attention.
I guess I’d probably start by not lying to the fanbase. Not announcing press conferences for unsigned players, not disrespecting any current players, especially not arguably the best SS in franchise history.
#ff
Look, it’s clear you just don’t like Farhan. Which is fine, I just wish you’d be more forthcoming about it. Be honest that no matter what he does, you’re going to have some bias against it. But instead of owning it, you deflect your biases onto me with a toothless canned response.
Even though you dodged my question, I still legitimately want to know: you’re GM/PoBO. What moves do you make to make the 2023 Giants contenders?
You did mention not “lying” to the fan base, so let’s start there. Remember, you’re part of a legion of fans that do nothing but complain. So what would you say to those #ff’s of the world that would satisfy them, and also improve the team?
And again, most importantly, which players do you sign or trade for?
Because even if you masterfully handled the Correa physical situation to perfection, you haven’t won your team any ballgames, and still have the complaining fans (just like you!) screaming in your ear.
#disatvantage I don’t dislike Farhan. I’ve been one of his biggest, most vocal supporters, for years. It’s just that I like my lifelong favorite team more. And I don’t like how he’s managing the front office. It’s nothing personal, it’s just business. Please stop assuming things you don’t know, about complete strangers, and making asinine accusations, based on nothing other than your emotions.
#ff
“I don’t dislike Farhan” says the guy who has commented up and down this thread agreeing with any critique against Farhan, who questions why his supporters appreciate him in a derogatory manner, who is one of the most vocal commenters against Farhan on this website, and did I mention made an entire username around getting Farhan fired? But sure, it’s an asinine accusation based on my emotions. You got me good!
Anyway, answer the question. It’s the end of the 2022 season. You’re PoBo/GM. What do you say to your restless fans, which moves do you make? Remember, you have to say all the right things, handle adversity like a champ (even if the adversity is caused by the owner and not you directly), make the team a winner, make the team younger, be a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong, and don’t you dare find a shortstop that can supplant your aging star (for the record, I love Bcraw all day long, but he ain’t getting younger). Otherwise the #ff’s of the world will be all over you.
If you can’t do that, then you’re just like Homer in the episode of the Simpsons where Flanders became a very good football coach, and Homer was insulting him left and right. Then, when Flanders left and insisted that if Homer was so great, HE should be the coach, Homer wimpered “but you were doing such a good job!”
#disadvantage – I don’t dislike Farhan as a person at all. Like I said, I don’t like how he’s running my favorite team. That’s all. Nothing more. It’s nothing personal towards him as a person, or you, although you appear to take it that way.
Seriously, getting so offended and hurt, hurling personal insults, based off of wild baseless assumptions, for no reason other than my opinion being different from your own, is nothing less than immature and childish AF. Don’t stomp your foot, making demands that I give you explanations or answer your hypothetical questions, to soothe your ego. I owe you nothing. (Although my simple answer would be that I wouldn’t lie to the fans of my team. I would keep my word. And treat my players with respect.) Now… Leave me alone, stop following me around and harassing me.
#disadvantage
I’m not part of a ‘legion’ of anything, like you, that agnes cootch guy and others.
I’m an individual, with my own opinion. Stop taking it personally. I have the right to my opinion, just as you have yours. Get over it.
I lay down plenty of objective facts about the Giants. Whether you personally like my screenname or not is irrelevant to that. I trash talk our rivals too.
And stop trying to put words in my mouth, that I never said.
I never said that the ‘Giants are terrible’. That’s your words, not mine.
At the very least,you could at least pretend to be honest.
#ff
Then why did you say “…but the vast majority of us Giants fans are quite sick of flailing Farhan’s bs”? Who does “us” represent if you’re going to present yourself solely as an individual? Sounds like you’re grouping yourself, but only when it’s convenient.
#disadvantage
You know I’m right, that the majority of us Giants fans are frustrated with the current front office. That’s just fact, like it or not. I’m tired of the trojan horse from the dodgers, who keeps bringing in old washed up dodgers has beens, like Beaty.
Hope they get the extension done. Zaidi would have options.
That Johnson interview is high quality reading. Not just for Giants fans. Touches on just about everything going on at the moment. Upfront and insightful.
It’s about the worst thing that could happen to the Giants franchise at this point. Let him go, before he lets Webb, Harrison and co. walk.
THIS IS TERRIBLE NEWS FOR US GIANTS FANS!!!!!
Stick your “us” where the sun doesn’t shine.
@foppert ‘us’ being we. Together we’re Giant
@firefarhan. No thanks.
#foppert. Sorry to see ya go, but I understand. This front office is terrible. Myself, I’ve been a loyal fan, for over 40 years. I’m sticking it out, Farhan won’t last forever. Good luck with whatever team you’re rooting for now.
Wow. You are over 40 years old. Remarkable.
Ownership just needs to see empty seats, to change their minds…
Plenty of empty seats last year and they were still the second most profitable team. They make money in other ways, which is unfortunate for the fans, because they can continue to be the definition of mediocrity and not pay any consequences financially.
Good thing you quit on them, Theodore.
Multiple times.
Read the article.
Ha ha. I love you too, Agnes ✊
Thank you.
@agnes cootch Did you really just attack my personal character, even though you’ve never met me and know nothing about me, just for having a different opinion than you? That’s immature AF. Liq mahol
Agnes called you a clown. You resort to “cootch” and “liq mahol”. And you say she’s immature. Stay classy
#claude Yeah, trying to communicate with someone on their own level. Sorry if that offended ya bud.
Well, now we know for a fact that Shohai Ohtani won’t be coming to SF
Still to be determined about an extension is what I gather. They have the guy from the Astros in the wings. I like the way the org is building itself. Baseball takes time. Look at the Pads. Astros. Dodgers for longevity. Braves. It just takes time. Timeframe wise, 2024 always seems about right for the Giants to bust out. Again, still disappointed some of the minors guys haven’t broke thru yet. Ramos especially. A few others. But looks like the depth is building. Save the money for Harrison, not Rodon things like that. The Giants Do Pay. Usually it’s the homegrown guys. Then with an abundance of trade assets, we can go get the pences of the world to take us over the top, etc. Takes time.
Being in the division with the pads and dodgers should be seen as a driver, not a hindrance. The Giants have to do Better. Period. Every year. And every Month hypothetical. Top to bottom. They have to improve. Then maybe one day, Farhan can lead that parade down Market, ala the Warriors.
Better shot with things in place the next few seasons then blowing it up. Sucks but wait and see. And who knew they’d win 107 out of the blue like that. With a bunch of no names filtering thru. I hope for fun season, and 90 Wins.
Read the interview, Jay. All questions answered.
@Jay I’m ready to see Pete Putila as POBO in SF
What is with all the Farhan hate? He came in with a mandate to clear payroll space up until this off-season. Withdrawn Correa deal aside (which he was ultimately vindicated on), he invested in across the board improvements to the roster.
The Giants have a shot to win the division. The Padres are thin at certain positions, the Dodgers are weaker than previous seasons and the Dbacks have to graduate a large group of prospects onto the team. The window is very much open for them in 2023.
Making a splash for the sake of making a splash is a poor way to construct a team.
Zaidi a top 5 GM.I wish the Yankees would take him and fire Cashman.
Then they wouldn’t have Rodon
Probably right but he’d get a bargain pitcher who is a lot cheaper and relatively close to his level. He does it all the time. Giants are a great team with immense depth.
#FireFarhan, You should go back and read all the criticisms leveled at FZ when he signed Rodon to a 2-year deal with an opt-out.. As it is, Rodon is opening the season on the IL, and they’ll be paying him $27M a year for the next 6 years. Maybe it will pay off for NY, but that’s a gamble I’m glad that FZ didn’t make. Not signing Rodon to a 6-year, $162M deal, is about the weakest argument I’ve seen recently
#tad You’re wrong to assume that I wasn’t around when they signed Rodon
#FF, Wow. Where did I ever say you you weren’t around? Reading comprehension is important. What I said was, go back and read the comments from when FZ signed Rodon. In no way does that mean you weren’t around. The purpose was for a reminder about all the negativity about Rodon’s health, and ability.
I doubted that you remembered the level of negativity. I certainly didn’t. I went back and read them after Rodon signed with the Yankees, which was interesting in terms of what fans were saying later.
If you did remember all that negativity, why didn’t you just say that instead of accusing me of assuming you weren’t around?
They already don’t have Rodón. He’s hurt. Which is exactly why he got that pillow contract with SF to begin with instead of a mega deal.
What are the chances Colton Welker gets called up this year?
Who?
not high – more likely to see schmitt or wilson who both really performed this spring and would likely start the season except they are giving villar the job to lose
Why? Because he hit over 300 for one season in hitter-friendly AAA? His bat has been pretty awful at every level prior to last season. There’s more chance of a regression than a progression.
He looked god-awful in the Bigs last year too, albeit a small sample size
The SF Giants does not need to extend Farhan Zaidi. Zaidi does not give out contacts more than 3 years and I believe that is part of the reason no free agent wants to play there. In my opinion they can go ahead and remove him now and let the GM do the job.
Yes, of course. The real reason Aaron Judge rejected the Giants’ NINE-year contract offer is because Zaidi never gives out contracts more than 3 years. Makes sense.
Yeah, also the same reason Harper rejected that 3 -year contract that was actually 12 years.
@Breck valid point. He absolutely REFUSES to sign any pitcher longer than 3 years. That’s why Ohtani won’t be coming to SF, and Webb, Doval, Harrison, ect, will be allowed to walk away, in free agency
#FireFarhan, The fact that you’re sure FZ won’t offer Ohtani more than 3 years, because one of the things he does is pitch, indicates you’re completely clueless about Farhan Zaidi.
Seriously, why doesn’t FZ want to sign a pitcher for more than 3 years? Clearly it’s the high risk of injury particular to pitchers. But in Ohtani’s case, should he suffer a pitching injury, he is still incredibly valuable.
Lumping Ohtani in with all the other pitchers, and stating categorically that FZ won’t pursue him, seems like you’re projecting future negatives before they even happen as reasons to want FZ out.
Giants signed 6 of the top 44 free agents this offseason. Taylor, Conforto, Haniger, manea, stripling, and Peterson. Not one of the top ten but they did get team depth which was clearly lacking last year.
Lots of angry fantasy baseball/MLB the show GMs in here ready to run the Giants.
Mind blowing. Zero attempt at understanding.
I understand a lot and I don’t play video games
When he said “mindblowing” he want talking about you FF. Now if he has sais mind BLOWN then, yes…you.
And why wouldn’t they? He’s increased revenue while decreasing spending, all while keeping the fans holding on by “well we tried”.. He really is a financial genius that owners love. Fans, meh. Wait a couple more years before you start professing your love for the guy
Nope. Non player payroll investment was increased. Player payroll increased significantly once that was in place.
FZs worst season w Giants was 2019–his first. And last w bochy. In fact, Giants were 214-272 in Bochys last 3 years, 2017-2019. Kapler, 1of 3 seasons have been losing seasons. Covid 2020 finished 29-31. Point here is the direction is OBVIOUSLY pointed positive. I’m not dissing on Bochy–loved him–but the organization was floundering. Seems all the negative posters would rather go back to preFZ because….??? This “most Giants fans want him gone” is from a minority. Same group wants Kapler gone. So I ask, why are there so many clueless complaining Giants fans. The answer is heartening–they’re a minority. The same people who say they don’t spend to get the Judges/Correas are the same people who whine about a dearth of prospects. You can’t play the future while spending $$$ on multi-year deals. Hence short term deals and some with opt outs.
Last thing, this dumpster diving FZ criticism? He’s relying on the prospects now and hasn’t made a waiver pickup since Sean Newcomb. Weeks. And that’s for milb depth. Look it up Firefarhan, the so called majority. Hardly any claims this season. His plan is taking shape–pay attention. So, the whiners obviously have not noticed because they’re blind. A poster on The Athletic posted: They say love is blind. Obviously, so is hate.
@claude yeah, a 27 game drop in win total from ’21 to ’22 is totally heading in the right direction. Sure bud
FF, Giants 2012 were 94-68 and won WS. 2013 were 76-86 with a 18 win drop. 2014 were 88-74 to win WS. Did you pull anything jumping on, then off , then on and now off the bandwagon….bud?
btw, been a fan since 60s. Some thick, but a lot of thin. They traded some of my favorites. Bobby Bonds. Perry. Matt Williams. I’ve had every excuse to give up. Nathan Liriano for Pierzinski. Probably the worst trade of all. Btw, a sabean trade. Repeat. Sabean trade. Obviously he led them to 3 titles, but EVERY does good and bad moves and can still win.
So why stay afan? That’s what good fans do. FF, you’re not one of those. You’re a quitter. So why, if you’ve quit, do you still post about the Giants. Please stop. You’ve quit. You’re no better than 27yankeechamp19tgwynn. When they win again you’ll change your username and get back on the bandwagon, using a step ladder.
#FireFarhan, 26 game drop, math is hard. And you do realize that it was a drop from the all time franchise win total, right? A 90 win season would have been a 17 game drop. You’re a little lacking in context.
It’s fairly obvious that those critical of FZ take the over-simplified results-based view. The Giants haven’t signed any big stars, have only one PS appearance, haven’t won a WS, and obviously haven’t advanced beyond the first round. So fire the guy. Why look in depth at the mitigating factors?
When FZ was hired, unrealistic expectations were for giant strides (no pun intended), and when the strides were in actuality only minor, the solution is to fire the guy. Forget stability. Just keep hiring and firing guys until it sticks to the wall.
bro… GET… HIM….OUT
great passion for the team on this comments section, and folks have certainly taken sides RE: FZ
a couple of questions for the FZ backers:
Why is not ok to be disenchanted with the guy who has brought such roster churn that it is sometimes difficult to know who is wearing a jersey? It doesn’t instill a lot of confidence, especially when a player is DFA’d the next week. Catching lightening in a bottle can have it’s moments, but when the bulk of the churn is failure after failure, why is that not ok to get burned out on? “Yet another rehab project” has its drawbacks, it has the feel of “getting lucky” far more than being based on anything planned.
There are numerous comments regarding the failure to bring in a big FA during FZ’s tenure, and that is a fact, none have signed. If it isn’t a lack of confidence in the moneyball system, then why is SF not a destination of choice? Correa nearly being the one exception to the rule.
A personal gripe: the Conforto contract seems like a total dog for the Giants and is deeply confusing to me. If he succeeds in his return he’s gone, if he doesn’t then it’s another year and a substantial portion of the salary budget down the drain. Either way pencil in another hole in the OF in 2024.
After so many complaints about not spending money, somehow this roster has a $200 million salary budget. Where is it going on this roster? About 15% of it is to two players who don’t have a full season between them in the last two years.
It’s hard to get too pumped up about a team with the budget capacity of the Giants but an approach worthy of the A’s. At least I can go back to rooting for the underdog again.
Which will be higher, the total of wins or number of games played by Haniger? I am going with wins, at 78.
COYG
Did you read the Athletic article ?
1) as explained by the man paying Zaidi, the churn was the process chosen to remain competitive while getting the minor league system sorted. As explained by the man paying Zaidi, churn is a difficult process, and the WAR produced by Zaidi’s efforts in that regard is impressive. So you are wrong on “failure after failure”. So in my world of fair play, it’s not ok to be disenchanted by a man doing his job well, as measured by the man setting his goals and paying his salary. But fans are going to fan. It’s not about a boss and his employee, it’s all about them and what they think.
2) Harper was early in the Giants renaissance and probably wasn’t convinced. That’s fair. It would have been a hard sell. Judge has indicated he was never leaving. They got Correa but vetoed him.
3) They have as much chance of resigning all the players with options as anyone else. If not more. Look at Joc. They do well, and you are not a pitcher wanting 5 years, they will pay you.
4) they spread the money. They have something like 10-12 players earning between 10 and 20.
5) Cool. Don’t get pumped up. Your choice to stay solid or leave and come back when they are more to your liking. It’s no big deal to anyone.
6) Haniger. All reports are he is one of the most detailed, hardest working players in the game. The Mariners diagnosed a core issue as a back issue. Their solution was to strengthen his core. He went to work, as instructed, and made things worse. Not his fault. Other stuff was freaky bad luck. Have some faith in the man’s attitude.
PGM, these waiver claims have almost come to a stop. Pay attention. Name the last claim that was dfa’d. And ain’t it funny how he was active with three claims/dfas for 3 years now and the only year that whiners want to talk about is 22. He was active in a very successful 21, but let’s just dwell on 22. Again, PGM, I’m curious about these claims/dfas this preseason. Let’s see your list.
*these claims not three claims
Newcomb and piscotty 7 weeks ago. Joe Ross 8 weeks. Still in the system. Perez on opening day roster. Sabol and Wisely traded for and on 40 man. There’s your list PGM. You know, you can tell us what you think you know but in the end we’re hearing what you don’t know.
PGM, If you bothered to look more than superficially you’d know that moneyball is not anything like the Giants MO. When was the last time the A’s made big offers to guys like Harper, Judge, or Correa?
“…the guy who has brought such roster churn that it is sometimes difficult to know who is wearing a jersey?”
Really? I’d guess your interest in the Giants is as superficial as your understanding of moneyball, and the Giants operation. The majority of the team has been on the roster for at least 3 years. Do still want Belt or Longo on the the Giants so you’ll be more familiar with the players?
Not sure why 15% for 2 guys is such a red flag for you. What percentage of the Padres salary goes to Bogaerts, Tatis and Darvish? Try over 30%. How about the Yankees? Judge, Stanton, and Cole account for almost 40% of NY’s payroll. In case you hadn’t noticed FAs cost money to sign, and not signing them has been a big complaint with the naysayers. Now when they do spend money on FAs you complain that it’s 15% of the payroll.
Fangraphs projects the Giants at 85 wins, and ZIPS projects they finish 3rd in the NLW with 88 wins. I’ll take their estimates over your doomer 78.
This must be crushing news for the anti-Zaidi crowd. The fact that the people with the power to fire FZ, who also have the inside info on everything concerning how FZ has operated, want to keep him as Giants PoB.
Also liking that kapler is sticking around