Giants choose former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler

The San Francisco Giants finally have a new manager. It was announced on Tuesday night that former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler would be the new bench boss.

The search for the next San Francisco Giants manager is over.

Gabe Kapler, who was relieved from his post as Philadelphia Phillies after two years at the beginning of the offseason, will fill the big shoes left behind by Bruce Bochy.

The field of candidates had been whittled to three, with Kapler getting the nod over Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada and Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro.

In his two seasons with the Phillies, Kapler compiled a 161-163 record, despite lofty expectations heading into the 2018 season following a spending spree that included the addition of Bryce Harper.

However, he has past ties to team president Farhan Zaidi from their time together in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office, and at the end of the day the decision was Zaidi’s to make.

Further changes are likely coming to the coaching staff, which could include longtime coach Ron Wotus heading elsewhere.

Kapler, 44, shares the analytical focus of Zaidi and can essentially function as an extension of the team’s front office, which no doubt helped his case to be hired over some of the old guard incumbents and potential outside hires.

This is a polarizing hire to say the least, and we’ll have plenty of reaction to it in the coming days.

For now, the Giants have two major items checked off the to-do list with the Kapler hire coming on the heels of news that Scott Harris is now sitting in what was an empty general manager chair.

With those moves made, the team can turn its attention to the free-agent market, where they are expected to be busy, even if they don’t make a serious run at any of the top free agents.

Stay tuned for plenty more Gabe Kapler coverage as we deep dive into the San Francisco Giants new manager.