In a surprising turn of events, the San Francisco Giants have terminated the contract of their president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, and appointed Buster Posey, one of the most celebrated players in Giants history, to succeed him.

This decision follows Zaidi’s three-year journey with the team, during which he led the Giants to a remarkable 107-win season and a division title in 2021, narrowly beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the Giants faced a disappointing exit in the playoffs, losing to the Dodgers in a dramatic five-game series. Following this, Posey decided to retire after winning three World Series championships with the team and earning the NL MVP award in 2010.

Subsequent seasons saw the Giants struggle with a record of 81-81, followed by 79-83 and 80-82, as Zaidi’s strategy of rotating players failed to yield similar success without the championship core that included Posey, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford.

Now, Posey, who has no significant experience in an executive role, is stepping into the critical position of leading baseball operations.

After his retirement, Posey joined the ownership group led by Greg Johnson and moved his family back to the Bay Area. Recently, he played a pivotal role in a significant contract extension for Matt Chapman, suggesting that Zaidi’s influence was fading after his arrival in 2019.

This change is now official.

“We are in search of someone capable of defining, guiding, and leading our baseball philosophy,” stated Johnson, the chairman of the club. “We believe Buster is the ideal choice. His temperament, intelligence, and ambition equip him for this role, and we are confident he and Manager Bob Melvin will collaborate to restore winning baseball in San Francisco.”

Posey, at 37, boasts a distinguished record as a seven-time All-Star and a career batting average of .302, with 158 home runs. He was instrumental in guiding the Giants to their first World Series title in San Francisco as a rookie in 2010, marking the beginning of three championships within five years.

Zaidi had previously served as a top executive with the Oakland Athletics and the Dodgers before being hired by the Giants to succeed Bobby Evans, who followed Brian Sabean, the creator of the Giants’ three championship brands. His data-driven strategy and the hiring of forward-thinking manager Gabe Kapler represented a significant departure from the organization’s traditional scouting methods. However, after a noticeable decline following their 2016 NL Division Series appearance and the departure of longtime manager Bruce Bochy post-2019 season, the team’s performance struggled.

Despite the Giants’ unexpected success in the 2021 season, frustrations grew among fans due to Zaidi’s analytical approach, coupled with the organization’s difficulties in attracting top free agents to San Francisco.

Tension heightened when contract negotiations for Chapman reportedly hit a snag until Posey stepped in. The team also made last-minute additions like Chapman and Blake Snell, both seeking secure contracts last winter.

This situation contributed to a poor start to the season and an eventual drop from contention. Snell has signaled his intention to opt-out of his contract but expressed an eagerness to rejoin the Giants.

Should he return, he will be working under a new president, someone well-acquainted with Giants supporters.

Nonetheless, being a former player does not guarantee success in an executive capacity. Notable figures like Michael Jordan faced significant challenges as executives with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats, while Hall of Famer Ted Williams struggled to find success managing the Washington Senators.

Yet, Posey is close enough to recent baseball changes to maintain connections with current players, agents, and coaching staff. His career unfolded during a time of significant transformation in player development and strategy.

“We believe it is time,” Johnson mentioned in his statement, “for fresh leadership to elevate our team.”