MLB insider speculates on the future of the SF Giants front office

If you are expecting sweeping changes to the SF Giants organization this winter, one MLB insider does not believe that will be the case. Bob Nightengale of USA Today believes that the Matt Chapman extension could be a sign of things to come.

MLB insider speculates on the future of the SF Giants front office

Nightengale speculates that if team president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was trusted to negoiate the Chapman extension, then it is a fair assumption that he will remain for at least one more season.

The Giants look like they will finish the year without a winning record for the fifth time in six seasons with Zaidi at the helm. In many instances, that would be a sign for going in a new direction.

However, the ownership group is, at least, likely satisfied with the improvement in attendance compared to last season. This year, the Giants have 2.3 million ticks, down from 2.5 million last year.

However, average attendance is at 32,900 tickets this year, up from 30,800 tickets per game just last year. With nine games left to go, there is a good chance that the Giants surpass last year's attendance figure with ease even if they run out of steam down the stretch.

On the field, this might be the first year in which the farm system has fed the major league roster. Heliot Ramos and Tyler Fitzgerald have both had strong years at the plate, whereas Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong have done a nice job to tread water.

There are plenty of others to add to the mix as well, but the youth movement has been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise disappointing season. The next question is, whether the Giants believe that these younger players can lead them to playoff contention sooner rather than later. It is hard to answer that question today.

On the other hand, the front office has been one of the more agressive teams in free agency over the past couple of seasons but they have little to show for it. The Giants' luxury tax payroll sits at $250 million, which is comfortably above the $237 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold. In terms of bang for buck, the Giants have not gotten it.

Since the start of 2023, the Giants have posted a 150-156 record and might struggle to match last year's win total of 79. That is a failure of the organization.

However, turning over the front office might be too drastic for an organization that hopes to compete again sooner rather than later. After six years, the ownership group has more than enough information to make an evaluation. If the Matt Chapman signing is any indication, they look like they will punt it down the road for another season.