MLB insider reaffirms SF Giants interest in A's executive, adds 1 more to the list

The SF Giants' search for a new general manager will begin in earnest after the team announced that Pete Putila would be reassigned. According to Jon Morosi of The MLB Network, the Giants will take a look at Billy Owens of the Oakland A's and Scott Sharp of the Kansas City Royals. Owens has already been speculated as a candidate more than once.

MLB insider reaffirms SF Giants interest in A's executive, adds 1 more to the list

If the Giants do look internally, it sounds like Jeremy Shelley will be an option. Shelley has been with the Giants since 1996, serving in a variety of scouting roles. He is currently listed as a senior vice president and assistant general manager.

In a lot of ways, Posey's first hire might be his most important one. The three-time World Series champion has a wealth of experience on the field but he has no traditional front office experience. He highlighted the need to hire someone with a strong scouting background in his introductory press conference on Tuesday.

Both Owens and Sharp bring that quality to the table. Owens would be a tremendous asset for the Giants whether it is as a general manager or in a different role.

He has been with the A's for over 25 years while rising to become an assistant general manager. His responsibilities include making recommendations for potential trades and free-agent signings as well as assisting with amateur scouting.

Oddly enough, Owens has been a candidate for a promotion in recent years but he has been passed up for one reason or another. This includes interviewing for the Giants and Mets general manager openings in the recent past.

Similar to Owens, Scott Sharp has a long history in scouting while rising to become an assistant general manager for Kansas City. He has been with the Royals organization for nearly two decades.

The Royals have turned the organization around recently thanks in large part to selecting Bobby Witt Jr. with the second overall pick in the 2019 draft.

They have augmented the roster by making some shrewd pitching additions in recent years. This includes trading for Cole Ragans and signing both Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha last winter.

Unlike Owens, Sharp has quite a bit of player development experience as well. Both Owens and Sharp have extensive experience in player acquisition and scouting. With Kansas City reaching the ALDS, Sharp could become a popular name for teams with front office vacancies. Both sound like strong options.