Sabean helped lead the Giants to three World Series in a five year spanGetty Images
The Yankees are "bringing back a familiar face" in longtime Giants exec Brian Sabean to "add depth to the front office," according to Mike Puma of N.Y. POST. Sabean has been "hired as executive adviser" to SVP & GM Brian Cashman. He served as Giants GM from 1996-2015 before he was "promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations for three seasons." Since 2018, Sabean had "served in a senior advisory capacity with the Giants." Under his leadership, the Giants "won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014." Sabean "brings a traditional scouting and development approach" to an organization that has "leaned heavily on analytics in recent years." He will "report directly to Cashman" and "expects to be involved in all facets of the front office." Sabean said that his contract was allowed to expire with the Giants because of a "personal matter with an extended family in which relocating to the East Coast was preferable" (N.Y. POST, 1/3). ESPN.com's Joon Lee noted Cashman "previously sung the praises of Sabean in 2018, calling him an 'unsung hero' for his role in drafting and developing Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams" (ESPN.com, 1/3).
PUSHED OUT? In N.Y., Matthew Roberson wrote since Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi took over the club's front office in 2018, Sabean "saw himself getting increasingly marginalized." He mentioned "wanting a bigger role, a pretty understandable ask for someone who guided the ship to three titles," and his "comments about what happened could definitely be perceived as a shot at his ex-employer." Sabean said, “Obviously with new regimes there’s different group dynamics and wants and needs. It became what it was." He "isn’t totally sure what the entire scope of his job" with the Yankees will be yet. However he "did say, unprompted, that he's all in” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/3).
WANTING TO CONTRIBUTE: In San Jose, Evan Webeck noted Sabean’s contract with the Giants "expired Oct. 31." Sabean said that at that time he "sat down" with CEO Larry Baer and Zaidi and "came to the agreement to explore other opportunities." Sabean was said to be "working on strategic initiatives as a senior advisor and evaluator" since Zaidi took over a restructured front office after the 2018 season. However, Sabean said that his role was "more diminished than he expected." Sabean: “I expected to be more involved and in some cases, it didn’t turn out that way. ... I think I needed to be in a place that I could give back, be a mentor, contribute at any level at any time. This was a better opportunity." He also said that he "expressed to Baer and Zaidi 'some family needs and professional interests'" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/3).
