The SF Giants have signed third baseman Matt Chapman to a 6-year, $151 million contract extension. This is great news because it means the Giants are retaining a really good player, but it could also mean that Farhan Zaidi is not on the hot seat.
There has been a lot of debate about whether the President of Baseball Operations for the Giants, Farhan Zaidi, will be back with the organization next year. With the Giants all but eliminated from playoff contention, the team still has only one playoff appearance and one winning season during his time with the Giants. With the way the team is currently playing, it certainly looks like it will be another losing season for the club.
There is a very valid case to be made for shaking things up in the front office, but the Chapman signing seems to suggest that Zaidi’s job is not in jeopardy.
Matt Chapman extension may be proof that Farhan Zaidi’s job is safe
Typically, ownership would not allow a front office to commit that kind of money to a player if they were having significant doubts about the leadership of the front office. Plus, Farhan Zaidi is set to appear at the press conference for Chapman’s extension to be held today. Of course, his absence would be very conspicuous but the fact he is there shows that there is still trust from ownership.
If ownership was serious about making a change in the front office, they would probably be reluctant to commit $151 million to a player at the end of a lost season. Of course, I cannot imagine any would-be Zaidi successor would complain too much about having a player like Chapman on the team. Yet, the timing of this move seems to be a sign from ownership that they are not going to rock the boat.
If that is true, it will disappoint a lot of Giants fans who were hoping Zaidi would be gone after this year. Fans are right to be frustrated with the team right now. Of course, Zaidi should be given credit for going out and getting good players in free agency in the offseason but he did not make the team better at the trade deadline which shows there was not a ton of belief in the team and is definitely valid to criticize.
If he is not fired, he will certainly have to make some key additions in the offseason to prove that 2025 will not be a repeat of 2024.
