Bob Melvin, whose option for the 2026 season was picked up in July, has been fired as manager of the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants were very streaky in finishing 81-81 this season, teasing fans with playoff hopes with a 13-3 run from late August into early September that was followed by a 2-9 stretch Sept. 13-23 that dashed those hopes.
“After careful evaluation, we determined that making a change in leadership was in the best interest of the team,” said Buster 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.”
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Melvin said after Sunday’s 4-0 victory against Colorado to conclude his second season that he had received no assurances about managing in 2026.
“Just looking to find a different voice that can take us in a different direction,” Posey said.
“It’s definitely not ideal but unfortunately we talked about it a lot what the standards are for the Giants and we have high standards,” Posey added. “And I hold myself to those same standards. I understand fully the position that I’m in now. My job and the team”s success is evaluated accordingly as well. You without a doubt hope that there can be consistency in these leadership positions. We’ve got to get back to a place where we’re getting in the playoffs, we’re making runs in playoffs. That’s what our fan base deserves, that’s what the city deserves.”
As Posey begins finalizing his list of candidates, one familiar name has come up as a possibility: the catcher’s former manager, Bruce Bochy. Bochy has wrapped up his three-year contract with Texas but Posey noted, “I don’t know what his status is yet so I can’t speak on that.”
San Francisco hasn’t made the playoffs nor had a winning record since finishing with a franchise-record 107 victories to edge the 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West title in 2021.
Posey said there’s no timetable for making a hire — “I want to make sure we get it right” — nor suggested whether he would seek someone with prior managerial experience.
Players offered support for Melvin as the season ended.
“You know how I feel about BoMel, I loved him. He’s been my manager for I guess seven years,” said third baseman Matt Chapman, who also played for Melvin in Oakland. “I feel extremely grateful that I get to play for him and he’s the same guy every day. He’s been steady for us, he’s always honest with the players, he has our back. He’s done the best with what we’ve given him. The players, a lot of us didn’t play to probably our capabilities.”
Melvin, who turns 64 in October and has been a major league manager for 22 seasons, left the San Diego Padres after the 2023 season to return home to the Bay Area and manage the Giants — a job he always dreamed of doing as a former catcher with the organization from 1986 to 1988.
He was brought to San Francisco by Farhan Zaidi, the team’s former president of baseball operations. However, with Posey now in that role, the team felt compelled to make a change after struggling against division rivals Los Angeles (4-9) and San Diego (3-10) despite adding slugger Rafael Devers at the trade deadline.
Melvin went 161-163 in his two seasons in San Francisco.
A three-time Manager of the Year who has won the award in both leagues, Melvin has a career regular-season record of 1,678-1,588 with eight postseason appearances while guiding Arizona, Seattle, Oakland, San Diego and the Giants.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
