Phillies: Gabe Kapler interviewing for another manager job
Former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler might be getting another chance to manage.
The San Francisco Giants will reportedly interview recently-fired Phillies manager Gabe Kapler for their opening manager position.
Jon Heyman of Fancred reports that Giants team president Farhan Zaidi “loves” Kapler after the two worked together with the Dodgers when Kapler was Director of Player Development for the Dodgers from 2014 through 2017.
Prior to Kapler being fired there were already rumors surrounding the Giants interest in him, one national report also saying the Giants would love to hire Kapler.
San Francisco is a baseball town and they are very much used to winning after manager Bruce Bochy led them to three World Series wins in five seasons.
Philadelphia Phillies
Kapler is very much a West Coast guy, born in Hollywood and growing up in Los Angeles. His Malibu home was destroyed last year during the tragic California wildfires, and the Philadelphia brass flew to California earlier this week to inform him they were going in another direction.
Kapler would enter a situation in San Francisco that’s somewhat similar to when he came to Philadelphia. After the greatest era in franchise history, Kapler would be coming in shortly behind a beloved manager for a team at the bottom of their game. San Francisco is bogged down by Evan Longoria’s contract, which has three more guaranteed years worth eight-figures each.
San Francisco also stands to potentially lose pitchers Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith, and Tony Watson in free agency this offseason. Spotrac reports that the Giants currently have the 12th-highest payroll in baseball entering 2020.
The Giants’ top six contracts account for 74% of their payroll, covering Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and Longoria.
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It likely won’t be smooth sailing for whoever takes the Giants job, but the area is perfect for Kapler and his relationship with Zaidi makes the match even better for a manager who is two games below .500 in his career on the bench.