SF Giants tab club scouting executive with extensive experience as next general manager

The SF Giants have been searching for a new general manager since Buster Posey took over as team president of baseball operations. That search appears to be over as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Zack Minasian is set to be announced as the team's next general manager.

SF Giants tab club scouting executive with extensive experience as next general manager

Minasian will be taking over for Pete Putila, who had just finished his second season in the role. When Farhan Zaidi was fired, the Giants announced that Putila would be reassigned as well while beginning a search for his replacement. Putila has extensive experience in player development, so it would not be surprising to see him assigned to a role in that area.

One way or the other, the front office will have many of the same voices at the top. Of course, the one omission is Zaidi. With Minasian taking over, it is not necessarily a sweeping philosophical change, but rather a rearranging of the chairs on the deck.

When Zaidi took over as team president of baseball operations in November of 2018, Minasian was one of his first major hires. Minasian was originally hired as the director of pro scouting but was elevated to vice president of pro scouting in 2022. This role typically deals with additions to the major league roster whether that be through free agency, trades, or waiver claims.

Prior to joining the Giants organization, Minasian had extensive scouting experience with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. This included a stint as director of pro scouting. When Posey was introduced as the new head of the front office, he indicated a desire to hire a general manager with a lot of scouting experience.

The Giants surveyed the market for external options with Billy Owens of the A's and Scott Sharp of the Kansas City Royals emerging as legitimate options. However, the latter withdrew from consideration due to family reasons. That said, Minasian has the type of scouting experience that Posey desires as well.

If the Minasian name sounds familiar, it is because his family been involved in baseball for years. His father was a clubhouse manager for the Texas Rangers, whereas his brother, Perry, currently serves as general manager of the Los Angeles Angels. Interestingly, Minasian is also the godson of the late Tommy Lasorda.

With a new general manager in place, the Giants have checked off one early goal for the offseason and plenty more to address as the winter progresses.