There are folks in these jobs who will take chances, some who will take considerable risk – and then there’s Buster Posey.
Posey, the San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations, just established himself as the biggest gunslinger in the business with a massive gamble hiring Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello.
Yes, Vitello, the same guy who has never played a day professionally, never managed a day professionally, is now in charge of taking the San Francisco Giants to the promised land.
Vitello, 47, becomes the first person to ever jump straight from the college ranks to become a Major League manager, signing a five-year contract.
It has all of the makings of an unmitigated disaster, but Posey didn’t budge.
Posey had a chance to bring back future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy.
He could have tried to convince future Hall of Famer Dusty Baker to come for one last ride.
He could have reached out and tried to hire Skip Schumaker, who was the top choice of virtually everyone, including the Baltimore Orioles who wined and dined him before he was hired by the Texas Rangers.
Instead, he’s going with one of the most successful collegiate coaches in recent years, betting that his team mixed full of veteran All-Stars and young kids – with plenty of egos – will actually pay attention to him and give him respect.
Good luck!
Posey, of course, took a leap of faith in his personal life by leaving the relaxing confines of home in Georgia to move to San Francisco, become part owner of the Giants, and then the president of baseball operations.
He went out and dumped $182 million on free agent shortstop Willy Adames.
He drove to third baseman Matt Chapman’s home before he could hit free agency again, signing him to a six-year, $151 million contract extension.
And, of course, he traded for Boston Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers, assuming $255 million.
Now just a month after firing veteran manager Bob Melvin, weeks after telling Bochy he was not wanted, he turns to a guy who has zero experience at the professional level.
The Giants originally were expected to hire Nick Hundley, a special assistant with the San Diego Padres, but when he withdrew his name from consideration, Posey pivoted to Vitello and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Certainly, Vitello is taking a risk, too. The dude was earning more than $3 million annually with salary and benefits at Tennessee through 2029.
There’s also a $3 million buyout that must paid to Tennessee. While the Giants still owe $4 million to Melvin for 2026.
Still, Posey is convinced Vitello is the right guy after developing 10 first-round picks in eight seasons at Tennessee, including Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce and Giants infielder Gavin Kilen. The Giants are filled with former players from Tennessee including outfielder Drew Gilbert, shortstop Maui Ahuna and pitcher Blade Tidwell. He also coached Toronto Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer at Missouri.
Now, he’s going where no man has gone before, straight from college to an MLB dugout as manager. The closest to make this jump was former Arizona State coach Bobby Winkles, who spent one year on the California Angels coaching staff become becoming their manager.
Will it work?
Scherzer believes Vitello he has the right temperament and will instantly infuse energy into the Giants. Gilbert can’t stop gushing over him.
And Posey is betting his job on him.
If it backfires, as several MLB executives and scouts already are predicting, it could end up costing Posey his job.
It’s one thing to take a chance that could damage a team’s chances for the postseason, it’s quite another to bet your job and reputation on it.
There’s a new gunslinging executive in MLB, a moniker last bestowed upon the great, late Kevin Towers, who was GM of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
His name is Buster Posey.
And this one is a doozy.
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This story has been updated to include new information.