In a surprising turn of events, the San Diego Padres have granted permission for manager Bob Melvin to interview with the San Francisco Giants, paving the way for a managerial change within the division. While many league sources believed that Melvin could emerge as the top candidate in San Francisco, the rarity of a manager jumping to a division rival while still under contract dampened the possibility.
Melvin’s contract with the Padres still has one year remaining, worth $3 million. If he were to be chosen as the Giants’ next manager, the Padres could pursue compensation for their loss. It is worth noting that the Padres had initially stated their intention to retain Melvin and general manager A.J. Preller, despite their strained relationship.
The arrival of Melvin in San Diego was seen as a major coup for the Padres. He left his job with the Oakland A’s to join the Padres, despite still being under contract. Melvin had a successful tenure with the A’s, posting a record of 563-506 and leading the team to six playoff appearances.
Unfortunately, the trust between Melvin and Preller never fully developed, and it became clear that their relationship was beyond repair. Despite public proclamations that both Melvin and Preller would be returning for the upcoming season, sources suggest that their relationship had deteriorated significantly.
Preller dismissed reports of a fractured relationship, stating, “From my standpoint, a lot’s been overblown. There are reports we don’t speak, and we’re talking four or five times a day. Personally, we have a friendship. All those things, I don’t put a lot of stock into the unnamed reports and sources and stories that are out of context.”
Melvin’s departure from the Padres would mark yet another managerial change for the team, which has seen its fair share of turnover in recent years. The Giants, on the other hand, have been in search of a new manager since their decision to fire Gabe Kapler after two seasons.
The Giants’ request to interview Melvin came earlier this week, and if he were to be hired, it would not be the first time a Padres manager under contract left for San Francisco. Former Padres manager Bruce Bochy made the move in 2007 and went on to win three World Series titles with the Giants.
San Francisco has been unable to recapture its past glory days since Bochy’s retirement and subsequent move to manage the Texas Rangers. Despite a mediocre season, the Giants fired Kapler and have been exploring their options for a new manager. Internal candidates, including bench coach Kai Correa, third base coach Mark Hallberg, and assistant coach Alyssa Nakken, have already been interviewed. Notably, Nakken became the first woman to interview for a major league managerial position.
If Melvin does become the Giants’ new manager, sources suggest that he will have relative autonomy in choosing his coaching staff. This could potentially make San Diego an even more attractive job for potential candidates, given their star-filled lineup that includes Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Xander Bogaerts.
Overall, the potential departure of Bob Melvin from the Padres and his potential arrival in San Francisco marks a significant managerial change within the division. Both teams will undoubtedly be closely watching the outcome of the interview process and the subsequent decisions made by both Melvin and the Giants organization.