As Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey conducts his first management search, John Shea of the San Francisco Standard reports that he has spoken to an intriguing name: former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. Shea doesn’t clarify whether or not the conversation was part of Posey’s search for a new manager or whether either party has a clear interest in Hyde taking over for Bob Melvin in San Francisco, but the conversation between the two is notable nonetheless.
After all, Hyde would make a lot of sense as a manager for the Giants. Like Melvin before him, Hyde hails from the Bay Area and has successfully led a small market team in the past. Aside from a one-game stint as manager of the Marlins in 2011, Hyde’s time in the manager’s chair has been spent entirely in Baltimore. He led the club from 2019 until he was fired in May, guiding the club through a lengthy rebuild, exceeding expectations with a surprisingly competitive 2022 season and then building on that success to deliver a 101-win campaign to Baltimore in 2023 en route to an AL Manager of the Year award.
Hyde’s 421-492 record with the Orioles leaves a lot to be desired, although it should be viewed through the lens of a club that had no intention of competing during his first three seasons in the organization. The early-season disaster the Orioles suffered under Hyde this year is an undeniable blemish that cannot be excused from the trials of leading a rebuilding club, but he is nonetheless highly respected throughout the game. Former Rockies manager Bud Black said Bob Nightengale of USA Today last month that he believes Hyde will lead again “soon,” and for his part, Hyde indicated to Nightengale that he hopes to return to the dugout soon next season. Maybe that opportunity could come with the Giants, his hometown team.
While there is a plausible fit between Hyde and the Giants, it obviously doesn’t mean he will be hired or even necessarily interview for the position. Shea notes that the Rangers special assistant (and former Giants catcher) Nick Hundley is “is fast becoming the popular choice” to replace Melvin and highlights his strong relationship with Posey, for whom he served as a backup during his time as a player in San Francisco. Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic takes a step forward and reports that Hundley is too “considered the favorite” for the San Francisco job, before adding that he is not expected to consider any other management opportunities besides the Giants vacancy. Hundley has been a known candidate for the position for some time and has already interviewed for the role, but the fact that he is considered the favorite is new information. Former All-Star catcher Kurt Suzuki and Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz are both also known as candidates for the role in San Francisco.
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