Buster Posey Named Giants' President of Baseball Operations

Can the 2012 NL MVP lead San Francisco back to glory?

New Giants President of Operations, Buster Posey, walking with Larry Baer and Bob Melvin.

Farhan Zaidi is out, and Buster Posey is in as president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants. 

Since hiring Zaidi in November 2018, the Giants had one winning season—107 wins in 2021—but finished near .500 in the other five years. False hopes for big-name free-agent signings like Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and Shohei Ohtani, along with rumors of Buster Posey negotiating Matt Chapman’s contract extension, only served to deepen the negative sentiments about Zaidi’s tenure.

With the hiring of Posey, there’s renewed hope within the organization and fanbase. As a 2012 NL MVP and a three-time World Series champion, Posey enters the front office with a level of trust that Zaidi never achieved.  

Having learned under both Bruce Bochy and Gabe Kapler, Posey brings a unique perspective that balances gut instinct and analytical insight. While many speculated that Posey would fully lean into a Bochy-like approach, Posey clarified during his Tuesday introductory press conference that this won’t be the case: “Analytics are here to stay. It would be a mistake not to use them” (via Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle).

It’s been a decade since the Giants won a playoff series, and in that time, they’ve made the playoffs only twice, suffering two NLDS losses. A change was clearly needed, especially when KNBR hosts find themselves relying on nostalgic memories of 2010-2014 to find anything worth talking about with this team.

But is Posey the right man for the job?

The early signs are promising. His involvement in the Chapman negotiations suggests he has trust among players and an ability to influence their free agency decisions. 

With experience under Bochy and Sabean, as well as Kaplar and Zaidi, Posey also brings a well-rounded understanding of various baseball philosophies. His commitment to using analytics signals that he’ll leverage advanced metrics without over reliance, unlike Zaidi.

While there is an undoubted power in the business side of front office success, the role is fundamentally based on personal connections. Leaders like Brian Sabean, Bob Myers, and John Lynch distinguished themselves through their ability to connect and understand their athletes. 

Given Posey’s deep understanding of the game and his valuable ability to connect with players, there’s a new sense of optimism.

However, the decisions Posey makes in selecting his front office will be pivotal. Lacking extensive experience in daily operations, he must rely on experts to fill key roles. He’s expected to bring in people he’s previously worked with and has mentioned seeking Brian Sabean’s advice, potentially even making him a part of the front office team, although no names have been confirmed yet.

That said, Posey is no stranger to the business side of the game, as evidenced by his lucrative deal with BodyArmor and his role in the Giants' ownership group and board of directors.

Yet, his strength in connecting with players could also be a double-edged sword; the cutthroat nature of the front office requires tough decision making, including parting ways with players, even those with whom he has built rich relationships. Not to mention, if he himself struggles in this new role, it might become an awkward and difficult situation for the organization and its fanbase. 

During his introductory press conference, Posey made it clear that one of his first significant moves will be hiring a new general manager. This decision will set the tone for the Posey era and provide early insights into his leadership style.