Despite assertions from San Diego Padres senior leadership he would continue to lead the team in 2024, Bob Melvin has reportedly been hired as the new manager of division rivals, the San Francisco Giants.
The Athletic reports that the San Diego Padres will part ways with former manager Bob Melvin after division rivals the San Francisco Giants hired him as their new manager. Melvin is a three-time Manager of the Year and will be entering his 21st season as a major-league manager.
Earlier this week, the Padres granted the Giants permission to engage with Melvin, who had a year left on his contract to manage in San Diego but was known for his clashes with Padres General Manager A.J. Preller. After the season ended and Padres were eliminated, it was reported that both Preller and Melvin would continue in their respective positions with the Padres, but Melvin sat down with several top Giants officials on Monday.
Melvin is a Bay Area native who began his career when the Seattle Mariners hired him to replace Lou Piniella before the 2003 season. He achieved a National League Manager of the Year award during his five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and added two American League Manager of the Year distinctions during his 11-year tenure with the Oakland A’s from 2011 to 2021, during which they reached the postseason six times. Melvin served two years as manager of the San Diego Padres, from 2022-2023, and made the postseason in his first season with the team. The Padres finished the 2023 season 82-80, two games out of the National League's final wild-card spot.
Bob Melvin replaces Gabe Kapler, who was terminated last month after the Giants failed to make the postseason. Speculation is that either bench coach Ryan Flaherty or senior advisor Mike Shildt will replace Melvin as the new manager for the San Diego Padres.
