SF Giants' contract decision on Bob Melvin shows how incompetent Padres truly are

The SF Giants announced earlier this week that they would be exercising the option in manager Bob Melvin's contract for the 2026 season. The decision shows that the San Diego Padres did a favor to the Giants by letting him go.

Prior to becoming manager of the Giants in 2024, Melvin spent two seasons as the manager in San Diego leading the Padres to the playoffs in 2022 but then followed that up with a disappointing 82-80 campaign in his second season.

SF Giants retaining Bob Melvin shows Padres fumbled situation

That disappointing season coupled with some friction between him and the front office led to San Diego granting Melvin an interview with San Francisco after the Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler. The Padres basically gifted Melvin to the Giants for nothing which may be a move they regret.

At the time it seemed like a mutual parting of ways was best for everyone involved. San Diego felt they should be getting more out of their stacked roster and their replacement, manager Mike Shildt, accomplished that in his first season in 2024 as he led the team to the playoffs with a 93-69 record before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

Melvin did not enjoy the same success in his first year with the Giants as the team had a disappointing 80-82 record in a year Melvin considered one of the most difficult of his long managerial career given his strong ties to the Bay Area.

Yet, the Giants have looked better thus far in 2025. Despite the team's recent struggles, they are still at 47-41 and are right in the thick of the National League Wild Card race as they are tied in the standings with San Diego.

Melvin has been far from perfect as manager, but one cannot argue that he has brought respect and stability back to the Giants. He clearly has the respect of the clubhouse and two of the team's leaders recently endorsed him strongly after the contract announcement so that counts for a lot.

While San Diego has done just fine without Melvin, it is interesting that they allowed him to go to the Giants so easily. When Melvin joined the Giants, the situation felt similar to when Bruce Bochy, arguably the most respected manager in the game, went straight from being San Diego's manager to the manager of the Giants.

Melvin has obviously not had anywhere near the success that Bochy has had in San Francisco, but you can rest assured there was plenty of grumbling about Bochy from 2007 to 2009 before he delivered three World Series championships in five years.

Many Giants fans may not love Melvin, which is fair. But he has the trust of the clubhouse and he has the trust of Buster Posey which is more important than anything else so the Giants should be thankful the Padres were so willing to give him up to them for free.