Giants Narrow Managerial Search to Final 3 Candidates
By Chris Russo
The San Francisco Giants are getting closer to finding someone to fill the big shoes of Bruce Bochy.
The Giants have narrowed their managerial search down to three candidates, per NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic.
Per sources, the Giants search for a new manager is now focused on Joe Espada, Gabe Kapler and Pedro Grifol. An update: https://t.co/uwkw3gpNU4
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) October 31, 2019
Recently-fired Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada, and Kansas City Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol are the finalists for the Giants' skipper gig.
Farhan Zaidi and Co. have a tough decision to make, one that will go a long way in determining the coming years of this franchise. Rumors have suggested that Kapler is the favorite, partly because he used to work in the Dodgers organization with Zaidi.
Welcome to the offseason. The Giants just have to hire a manager, a GM, find their closer, find hitters who can handle Oracle Park, and figure out what to do with Madison Bumgarner. pic.twitter.com/09mh8xgfP6
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) October 31, 2019
Kapler is also the only finalist with past MLB managerial experience, having managed the Phillies to a 161-163 record over the last two seasons. However, Espada has been a managerial candidate for the last couple of years.
Espada served as the Marlins' third base coach for four seasons, then served the same position for three years with the Yankees. He has been the Astros' bench coach since 2018 and he will interview in person for the first time because the Astros' playoff run permitted him from doing so.
Grifol has coached with the Royals since 2014. For a time, he served as the director of minor league operations for the Seattle Mariners.