The San Francisco Giants reportedly have a leading contender in their search for a new GM.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, San Francisco is ready to offer the job to Los Angeles Dodgers GM, Farhan Zaidi.
An official with another @MLB club tells me #SFGiants are prepared to offer a position to Farhan Zaidi. It is unclear where process stands, or if Zaidi will accept. Neither the Giants nor Zaidi are commenting. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 5, 2018
This would be notable. It would certainly add some spice to the Giants-Dodgers rivalry.
Zaidi has been Los Angeles’ GM since just after the 2014 season. He was one of the first hires that Andrew Friedman made after being named President of Baseball Operations. The Dodgers have enjoyed a lot of success in Zaidi’s tenure. They’ve won the NL West in each of his four years in Los Angeles and have won the NL pennant in each of the last two years.
The Giants, meanwhile, have hit on hard times. They’ve posted consecutive losing seasons and have a farm system that needs to be replenished.
While Zaidi is Los Angeles’ GM, Friedman is far more active in building the team. Moving to San Francisco would likely give Zaidi far more authority — especially with longtime GM and current Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, Brian Sabean, in the final year of his deal.
Zaidi also has Bay Area ties. He has a PhD in economics from Berkeley and worked in the Oakland Athletics front office before being hired by Los Angeles.