SF Giants insider's bombshell report endangers Farhan Zaidi's job security

Long-time SF Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports that Buster Posey personally got involved in negotiations for the extension of third baseman Matt Chapman. This could mean Farhan Zaidi's job is not as safe as previously thought.

After the extension was announced, I wrote about how I felt the lengthy and expensive extension to Chapman was an indication from ownership that they were going to give Zaidi at least one more year to figure things out. Of course, I was not privy to these behind-the-scenes negotiations which completely change one's perception of the deal and what it means for Zaidi.

Farhan Zaidi's job is not as safe as previously thought

The Baggarly article is behind a paywall, but essentially Baggarly cites sources from within the Giants organization who claim that ownership was frustrated that negotiations with Chapman were taking so long. Therefore, Posey got involved directly with Chapman to figure out the basic structure of the deal to essentially cut around the Zaidi and Scott Boras tango which can infamously take a long time to conclude.

This makes sense because the extension was not a very Zaidi-like deal. A 6-year extension with a no-trade clause, no opt-outs, and no weird caveats or carveouts. Just $25 million a year for the next 6 years. It makes total sense that someone like Posey, who understands the value of having a consistent player like Chapman on the field, would have worked out the basic structure of this with Chapman who has also voiced happiness with his current situation and playing for the Giants.

What does this mean for Zaidi going forward?

Baggarly's reporting echoes reporting from USA Today's Bob Nightengale about how the ownership group of the Giants has not made a decision regarding Zaidi's future. What all of this suggests is that the ball is still very much in the air. A lot of this will probably depend on how Zaidi tries to spin this season and what sort of plan he has to improve next year. My gut is still leaning towards them giving Zaidi and manager Bob Melvin one more year to try to figure it out but it would not come as a great shock if Zaidi is let go.

Ultimately, the results have not been there on the field. While that is not entirely Zaidi's fault, fair or not he is going to shoulder a lot of the blame. Ownership may feel it is time to get a fresh start in the front office and this reporting that a franchise legend in Posey is getting personally involved in negotiations does not help Zaidi's cause.