Bob Melvin's next stop after SF Giants ouster couldn't have been more predictable

It was announced on Thursday that former SF Giants manager Bob Melvin has accepted a role to become a special assistant in the baseball operations department for the Athletics organization. This move does not come as a huge shock.

Melvin was the manager of the A's from 2011 to 2019 and oversaw some really strong seasons in Oakland. The long-tenured manager has deep Bay Area roots so it is not surprising that he is returning to an organization on the West Coast that he had such great success with.

Former SF Gians manager unsurprisingly joins Athletics organization

We have seen this sort of move before after a firing. For instance, Farhan Zaidi went back to the Los Angeles Dodgers to serve in their front office once again after he flamed out with the Giants. It's not a bad job for someone like Melvin who has paid his dues multiple times over and now gets to have a nice plum job at this stage in his career.

It's unfortunate that Melvin's time as manager of the Giants did not work out. He was at the helm for two decidedly mediocre seasons, the second of which was incredibly disappointing in 2025 as the team had a solid start in the first few months and then added slugger Rafael Devers.

Many thought that move could take the Giants to the next level and maybe even help them take down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Instead, the team cratered and not even a late-season surge could save Melvin's job.

Melvin said that he had no regrets after he was fired and spoke about his future plans, saying he hoped maybe he could manage in Japan someday. Perhaps he can still do that somewhere down the road.

The Giants decided to go in the complete opposite direction from Melvin with their new manager Tony Vitello. Where Melvin had decades of experience as a professional coach and player, Vitello is completely new to professional baseball. And where Melvin was stoic and fairly reserved in his mannerisms, Vitello is known for being fiery and high-energy.

We will see how this experiment works out with Vitello, but if things go sideways some may point out that Melvin still had a year left on his contract when he was let go.

Still, it makes a ton of sense that he is back with the franchise he has had so much success with especially given his Bay Area roots, even if the A's are no longer a Bay Area team.