Approximately two weeks ago, late on September 4 Pacific Time, news broke that the Giants and third baseman Matt Chapman had reached a six-year, $151MM extension deal. This agreement prevented Chapman from opting out of his contract and entering free agency. Recent reports from Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic described the negotiations as unique, with former player Buster Posey directly communicating with Chapman instead of through Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and Chapman’s agent Scott Boras. Posey, a minority owner of the club and member of its board of directors, seemed to be taking a more active role in the negotiations.
However, a new report from John Shea and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle offers a different perspective. According to the report, Zaidi has been dealing with undisclosed medical issues that have required him to be in the hospital multiple times recently. This has led to other staff members being more involved in negotiations, which was deemed necessary due to Zaidi’s health-related absences. The Chronicle report suggests that Posey’s role in the negotiation process may have been overstated in previous reports, with both Boras and Zaidi confirming Posey’s involvement but denying any ulterior motives.
Both Boras and Zaidi clarified that they were the main parties negotiating the financial terms of Chapman’s extension, with ancillary contract terms being handled by other team officials once the financial terms were agreed upon. Despite the updated understanding of the negotiation process, Zaidi’s job security still appears to be uncertain. The board of directors is waiting until the end of the season to make a decision on his future, as the Giants have struggled with a 5-9 record in September, bringing their overall record to 73-78.
There has been speculation surrounding Zaidi and the front office, especially following a decline in the team’s performance over the past few years. Reports have revealed that Zaidi’s and manager Bob Melvin’s contracts are only guaranteed through 2025, with potential club options for 2026. The ownership group is reportedly evaluating Zaidi’s performance and will make a decision based on what they believe is best for the team, regardless of his contract status. The coming weeks and months may shed more light on Zaidi’s future with the Giants.
