One of Zaidi's first decisions on the job will be hiring a new GM to help him rebuild the GiantsGETTY IMAGES
Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi has "accepted the Giants' offer" to be their next President of Baseball Operations, according to Henry Schulman of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Zaidi had been working in his role with the Dodgers under President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman for the "past four seasons." During his time with the A's and the Dodgers, Zaidi "developed a reputation as a brilliant numbers man who also respected scouts and their work." Colleagues have also "credited Zaidi with being an incisive, outside-the-box thinker." One of Zaidi's first decisions on the job will be hiring a GM to "help him rebuild the Giants," who have endured back-to-back losing seasons (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/7). MLB.com's Chris Haft noted Zaidi with the Giants will be "baseball czar," answering only to President & CEO Larry Baer. Zaidi's background "suggests that he at least stands a chance of reversing" the Giants' fortunes. Baer at the end of the regular season "defined the yet-to-be-hired executive" as a "Next Gen" GM who was "expected to have command of modern baseball analytics." Zaidi "fulfills that requirement" (MLB.com, 11/6).
INTO THE FUTURE: In S.F., John Shea writes in a "momentous move for an organization that has been consistent with its personnel and philosophies, the Giants suddenly became more analytics-driven when hiring Zaidi." The Giants, who fired GM Bobby Evans in September, had been "searching for someone to not only replace Evans but assume the role" held by Exec VP/Baseball Operations Brian Sabean, the baseball department's "top decision-maker since the late '90s." Sabean was "preferring to step back into an advisory role and focus on scouting, his roots" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/7). MLB Network's John Hart said it is a "challenging time right now for the Giants." They have "a lot of moving parts, but it's incumbent upon them to get a guy that has been there before." Hart: "They have that opportunity with Farhan Zaidi." MLB Network's Pete McCarthy: "He'll be in a great spot with the Giants as we have seen what ownership will commit to with three world championships over the years." MLB Network's Dan Plesac said the Giants are a "fan base and a team that's not afraid to spend money." If Zaidi is "looking for a challenge, this is a great place to try to challenge." Plesac: "They're not afraid to spend money or be aggressive with players" ("MLB Now," MLB Network, 11/6).
DAWN OF A NEW ERA: THE ATHLETIC's Tim Kawakami wrote with the hiring of Zaidi, Baer and the Giants ownership group understood that things had "gotten a little stale" since their last World Series win in '14. There are only "so many moves at the margins and you can only bet on your core guys for so long before you end up building a roster built on memories, not actual value." Zaidi is the guy who will "move this franchise into the new era." That is "no guarantee of success," but it is the "promise of a more creative future" (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/6). MLB Network's Ron Darling said Zaidi's hiring "represents a new look of things and presents a great opportunity for him to bring all of his knowledge to the Giants." It would also "mean new ways of doing things for the Giants as well" ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 11/6). THE ATHLETIC's Andrew Baggarly notes the Giants "wanted to hire an executive with a track record, an executive who already had demonstrated success at the top of an organizational pyramid, an executive who offered instant name recognition." The Zaidi hiring is a "bigger announcement" than the trades for RF Andrew McCutchen and 3B Evan Longoria last offseason, extending C Buster Posey or acquiring RF Hunter Pence. It is the "biggest, franchise-altering announcement since that buzzing day at the winter meetings" in '92 when the Giants signed Barry Bonds (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/7).
TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT: In L.A., Jorge Castillo notes Dodgers Senior VP/Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes is an "obvious candidate to replace Zaidi." But Byrnes is "believed to be comfortable with his current role and may not desire" to become a GM again after holding that role with the Padres and D-backs (L.A. TIMES, 11/7). In Tampa, Marc Topkin notes with the Giants hiring Zaidi, Rays Senior VP/Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom is "expected to stay" with the team, "at least for now." Bloom was "among the finalists for the Giants job" and has "been of interest to a number of teams" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/7).
