Giants to hire Gabe Kapler as manager

Former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has landed another managerial gig.

Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic is among those to report that Kapler is set to manage the San Francisco Giants. Kapler, along with Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatro, were the three finalists. Kapler will succeed Bruce Bochy, who won three World Series titles with the Giants in his 13-year tenure.

Despite knowing since February that the team would be in need of a manager at the end of the season, the Giants dragged their search into November. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now the only team remaining with a managerial vacancy.

Out of all the vacancies that Kapler could have filled, San Francisco appeared to be the best fit for the 44-year-old native of California. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi previously worked with Kapler while with the Dodgers. Zaidi reportedly thought so highly of Kapler that he gave a glowing review of the former Phillies skipper when Phillies general manager Matt Klentak was looking a hire a manager back in 2017. Zaidi also emphasized that the Giants were looking for a manager who emphasizes relationship building, which was arguably one of Kapler’s strength at the helm in Philadelphia.

Kapler joins new general manager Scott Harris as the Giants latest hires.

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