This executive would be 'safest person' for SF Giants general manager role

The SF Giants continue to search for their general manager after hiring Buster Posey as their president of baseball operations. While many outside candidates are available, the safest choice may be an internal option.

On the latest episode of the Giants Talk podcast hosted by Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Pavlovic said that long-time Giants front office executive Jeremy Shelley would be the safe choice for the Giants.

Jeremy Shelley could be the safest internal GM option for SF Giants

This is what Pavlovic had to say about Shelley: "To me the safest person in the organization right now is Jeremy Shelley. He was brought up multiple times in [Buster Posey's introductory] press conference. He's been [with the Giants organization] now for three decades. He knows more about the Giants than maybe anyone on Earth."

Pavlovic continued by noting that Shelley worked under former general managers Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans and also worked under Farhan Zaidi.

His official title is Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager. He helped multiple regimes with the day-to-day operations in the front office. Shelley sort of seems like the front office equivalent of Mike Murphy, the longtime clubhouse manager of the Giants who was involved with the organization for decades and decades.

The Santa Clara University alum also has scouting experience which is something that Posey identified as a key want when asked about what he would be looking for in a general manager. Shelley served as Senior Director of Baseball Operations and Pro Scouting in 2009 and as Vice President of Pro Scouting and Player Evaluation in 2013.

He checks a lot of boxes for what Posey is looking for in a potential GM. He knows the organization front and back, can scout, and knows what it takes to run a front office on a day-to-day basis. It would seem like a fitting reward for all of Shelley's years of service to the organization.

However, maybe Shelley prefers his current behind the scenes role and would not want to go to a more front-fracing role like general manager where he will be under more scrutiny and his job could be on the line if the team underperforms.

Shelley may be more valuable in his current role, but if Posey and the Giants do not want to rock the boat too much Shelley seems like a very safe, competent internal option for the general manager role.