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Jeff Passan, ESPN
The San Francisco Giants have made a shocking decision by firing manager Gabe Kapler. This move comes after a devastating late-season collapse that resulted in the team missing out on playoff contention. Fans and analysts are now left questioning the future direction of the franchise.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Giants fired Kapler with just three games remaining in the season. This decision was made as the team held a disappointing 78-81 record. Giants president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, stated that he recommended firing Kapler to ownership and received their approval to do so.
As the Giants’ season comes to a close, Kai Correa has taken over as the interim manager. However, their final game, a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, was a difficult end to an already challenging season.
In response to his firing, Kapler expressed his disappointment on Instagram, saying, “It is a disappointment to say goodbye. I felt a genuine connection, perhaps not to everyone everywhere, of course, but to most.”
Despite the disappointment, Kapler also acknowledged the growth he experienced during his time with the Giants. He recognized the opportunity he had to help others grow and expressed gratitude for the chance. However, Kapler admitted that the team’s lack of success was unsatisfying to both himself and the fans.
Kapler, who took over as Giants manager in 2020, achieved notable success in the 2021 season with a record of 107-55. This marked the first time in 11 years that a team finished ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Unfortunately, the Giants fell short in the division series against the Dodgers. Following that season, they struggled to replicate their success and finished with an 81-81 record.
While Giants owner Greg Johnson had initially planned to keep both Zaidi and Kapler until the end of their contracts in 2024, he changed his stance regarding Kapler. This decision now opens up another managerial vacancy in what is expected to be a busy offseason for hiring.
Other managers whose statuses are in question include Cleveland’s Terry Francona, Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell, Houston’s Dusty Baker, the Los Angeles Angels’ Phil Nevin, the New York Mets’ Buck Showalter, and San Diego’s Bob Melvin. Additionally, Terry Francona has announced his retirement after this weekend.
The Giants seemed poised for a rebound after the All-Star break, but their performance took a steep decline in recent months. Since July 18, San Francisco has a record of 24-40, the second-worst in the National League. They have also fallen behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Padres in the standings.
Frustration has been building within the Giants organization in recent weeks, as the team finished September with a dismal 8-18 record.
Logan Webb, the team’s ace pitcher, expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “I’m tired of losing. It’s not enjoyable. It’s not fun. We have to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture that we want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing.”
Zaidi acknowledged that the Giants played their worst baseball when it mattered most. The team’s performance during their final road trip, where they still had a chance at the wild card, was especially disheartening. These struggles ultimately led to the Giants making the difficult decision to part ways with Kapler and consider alternative strategies.
Looking ahead, with a relatively low payroll commitment of $110 million in 2024 and $45 million in 2025, the Giants are expected to be active in free agency. Rumors suggest they may target superstar Shohei Ohtani as they aim to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season.
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