As the Giants continue their search for a new GM to take over for Pete Putila and serve as Buster Posey’s second-in-command following his installation as president of baseball operations, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that one name under consideration has withdrawn himself from the mix for the job: Royals assistant GM Scott Sharp, who Rosenthal notes is removing himself from the pool of candidates due to family considerations.
Sharp, 51, currently serves as a senior vice president and assistant GM for Kansas City. The longtime Royals exec got his start in the club as a the club’s assistant director of player development in 2006 and since then has steadily climbed the organizational ladder, also serving as the director of minor league operations and director of player development in Kansas City before eventually becoming assistant GM in 2015. Prior to his time with the Royals, Sharp served as a scout for the Pirates, Dodgers, and Rangers organizations.
That strong background in player development is likely the reason the Giants had interest in Sharp for their GM role. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle noted this past week, Posey has made it clear that he’s looking for a candidate with an extensive scouting background for the GM role. That’s led the Giants to pursue plenty of candidates with resumes similar to the one Sharp brings to the table, including Athletics assistant GM Billy Owens, former Dodgers VP of amateur scouting Logan White, and former Nationals director of player development De Jon Watson.
Posey’s desire for a GM with a strong background in scouting is sensible given his own relative inexperience on the front office side of the baseball world; the 37-year-old is just three seasons removed from his playing career and since then has served on the club’s board of directors after purchasing a minority share in the club two years ago. While he’s had a hand in the club’s operations since then, working to recruit free agents and even taking on a significant role in the recent extension negotiations with third baseman Matt Chapman, it’s unclear how much of a hand Posey had in the day-to-day operations of the Giants prior to his ascent to the president of baseball operations gig. With that being said, Slusser indicates that experience in contract negotiations and arbitration hearings isn’t necessary for Posey’s GM given assistant GM Jeremy Shelley’s experience in that role.
Turning back to Sharp, it seems as though the longtime Royals exec may only be interested in making a change if he would be stepping into an opportunity to lead an organization. Rosenthal’s report suggests that Sharp has interest in leading baseball operations for an organization at some point in the future, though it’s unclear whether or not the fact that he would answer to Posey was a factor in his decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the Giants’ GM job. For the time being, however, it seems that Sharp is content to remain with the Royals on the heels of a surprising 86-win campaign that saw the club return to the postseason for the first time since their 2015 World Series championship.
Baseball front office jobs are hard to come by. But if Posey is going to be a figurehead who gets most of the credit, it will be hard to recruit a lateral to be the grunt who does most of the work. Not saying it will be that way, but they will need to convince the applicants otherwise.
Besides Buster Posey getting most of the credit, they may also be looking for someone to take the blame if things don’t go well.
Yeah it’s kinda like having a family member to answer to. The Giants are going to need a scapegoat. I think getting rid of Zartan made a lot of sense but hiring Posey was a mistake.
GI joeeeeee
Grape soda and doughnuts removed from the Giants clubhouse
Wrong
Posey is a majority owner, he’s a future hof catcher that also headed the Chapman extension. I think that actually sunk fahran. While it was sudden, his baseball iq is high, and with an actual gm it could actually work well. Time will tell
I think it made sense for ownership. Realize that hiring someone externally would mean likely wiping the entire organization and the last thing that ownership is going to want is the uncertainty of that. Posey may or may not do well but he can also be transitional and allow for them to move forward with a scalpel and re steer the direction of the ship rather than sinking it and building a new one
Posey is a MINORITY owner. In that Charles B. Johnson is the largest shareholder of the Giants. Posey was (still is?) on the Board of Directors.
that doesn’t have anything to do with what I am talking about
The only acceptable names are Brian Sabean and Ned Colletti
yes, if it was 2009
The most likely reason he withdrew his name is because he doesn’t want to be Buster Posey’s puppet. But if he says that, it could hurt his chances of landing another gig.
“Family considerations.” I would think Kansas City would be a far better place to raise a family, considering what SF has become in recent years.
Colletti would be an intriguing choice considering his ties to both Giants and Dodgers, but he’s also been out of baseball for a decade while a scout for the NHL. With his longtime Dodger ties, a Logan White hire would immediately make him a target if a turnaround isn’t fast enough for Gigantes fans. As previous posts said it’s not an ideal position to not get the credit while also being a scapegoat if one doesn’t succeed. A no-name up-and-comer might be the best choice for SF.
As a Dodgers fan, I would fully support the Giants bringing in Colletti. He handed out some absolute stinker contracts while in LA.
Colletti was turd as Dodgers gm.
If they can wait 15 days, there will be a certain Bay Area woman looking for work.
Who are you talking about ??
some people think about politics 24/7 and interject it into every possible topic
Easy and obvious mute.
Yup. Terry is about as interesting and repetitive As BP in the area. This site has done a fine job of dumping most of the perennial trolls. We should all be grateful for that. Keep it up mlbtr.
For some people, politics is their main personality trait. They don’t have much else to lean on.
Thanks for the easy mute and report
Would fail at that job also terryturnbuckle. Could u just picture that not named person taking orders from Posey? It’s hilarious from so many different angles.. One of those spit in ur cup laughing moments u posted, or want to puke if a SFG fans to have their franchise defaced by such.
Wow. People are still over-sensitive here. Some just can’t take a joke. That’s a big reason I stopped reading the ridiculous comments on this site. A big “Thank you” to those that just reminded me why.
I too would like to withdraw my name from the search, just because I am woefully unqualified for the job.
If Posey needs someone with a strong scouting background, it’ll probably include frequent travel for the position. An exec with a rooted family may see that as a demotion in spite of the GM title.
This Is a Big Win for San Francisco Giants.
The Individual was not to Shape
That’s too bad, now we look for second best. Posey starting to look like an oligarch.
Vladibuster Posevich ?
Petroputinism.
He’s not ready to join to Posey Posse (TM)
I predict Sharp will be hired as GM in Texas. Chris Young got promoted and Dayton Moore is an advisor. Seems like a logical fit.