LOS ANGELES, CA — In a stunning move, the San Francisco Giants have fired Farhan Zaidi as president of baseball operations, replacing him with former Giants star catcher Buster Posey. While Zaidi led the team to a 107-win season in 2021, the team struggled to maintain that level, failing to reach the playoffs in the subsequent years. Zaidi’s tenure in San Francisco marked a departure from the team’s traditional approach, emphasizing analytics and constant roster changes. Posey, a franchise icon with no executive experience, takes over to revitalize the Giants.
For Dodgers fans, Zaidi’s departure from the Giants might come as a bit of a surprise, not that he’s been fired but that he couldn’t recreate the LA magic in Northern California. Before heading to San Francisco in 2019, Zaidi was a key figure in the Dodgers’ front office, serving as the team’s general manager from 2014 to 2018. His contributions to the Dodgers included building a foundation of strong scouting, player development, and roster management. During his time in Los Angeles, the Dodgers emerged as perennial contenders, reaching the postseason every year under his leadership.
Zaidi’s background in analytics was crucial in modernizing the Dodgers’ approach to building competitive teams, and it paid off in their deep playoff runs. His work in Los Angeles set the stage for the team’s later success, including their 2020 World Series championship. However, his move to the Giants meant a shift in allegiances, and Dodger fans watched as he attempted to recreate that success in San Francisco…