The San Francisco Giants flirted with a postseason appearance but ultimately came up short. The team brought renewed energy toward the end of the season, and for a brief moment, it looked like they might flip the script. However, on Monday, Buster Posey made a major announcement: it was time to move on from manager Bob Melvin.
“After careful evaluation, we determined that making a change in leadership was in the best interest of the team," said Posey, the Giants' president of baseball operations. "The last couple of months have been both disappointing and frustrating for all of us, and we did not perform up to our standards. We now turn our focus to identifying a new leader to guide us forward."
With Melvin out, the organization now shifts its attention to finding its next manager — and an unexpected name has surfaced: Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello.
“Here’s one out-of-the-box name who fits the high-motor description: Tony Vitello, who transformed the University of Tennessee from a bottom-feeder in the Southeastern Conference into perhaps the brashest and most talented program in the country,” The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported. “It’s possible that Vitello and Posey have already spoken; both were at Coors Field when the Giants played a three-game series against the Rockies earlier this month.”
Vitello has a strong connection to Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert — he was Gilbert’s head coach at Tennessee. The two formed a dynamic duo during their time with the Volunteers, and Gilbert has already made waves in a Giants uniform.
“Drew Gilbert over his 4 starts: 10 H, 8 RBI, 7 R, 6 XBH, 0 K. Since RBI became official in 1920, the only other MLB rookie to reach all of those numbers over a four-start span was Joe Morgan (July 8-16, 1965),” Opta Stats posted.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Bringing Vitello to San Francisco would be a major plot twist compared to the other managerial candidates being discussed — but given how the Giants have responded to Gilbert’s unique personality and style, Vitello might not be so far off the mark.
Convincing Vitello to leave Tennessee would be a challenge. He’s built something special there, and walking away wouldn’t be easy. Still, in today’s baseball world, nothing is impossible. If Posey and Vitello have already been in contact, something significant could be brewing behind the scenes.