San Francisco Giants: Top 7 candidates to replace Bruce Bochy

Conclusion

As mentioned previously, there are many factors in play in regard to the managerial outlook for the 2020 season.

While there will surely still be more bets placed on outlandish names and other ridiculous suggestions on who should become a player-manager, Zaidi has been working all season long on figuring out who he wants to interview this offseason.

It will not be easy to fill the shoes of Bruce Bochy. Expectations need to be tempered no matter who is chosen to be his successor.

But the reality is that Zaidi may be looking for someone who is entirely different from Bruce Bochy.

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Sure, there are plenty of aspects that would be ideal in a new manager — poise with the press, ability to command respect, and so on — but Zaidi may be looking less for a revolutionary manager and more for someone who buys into what he’s selling.

Whether that’s found internally, out on the open market, or somewhere hidden in Zaidi’s past remains to be seen.

In any case, the San Francisco Giants have the groundwork for a rebuild that should be successful. Pinpointing a manager to lead a young team into the next era is key.

The front office has shown to be capable in identifying talent, and that certainly must extend to their choice in a manager.

Farhan Zaidi, who is expected to interview between 12 and 15 candidates this offseason, will remain open-minded. He won’t be looking for someone who sees baseball exactly the same way he does, but rather someone who can continue developing the game.

Dave Roberts, Zaidi’s lone manager hire, has warned Giants fans to be patient and confident in their president of baseball operations.

"“Farhan is one of the brightest guys I’ve come across. People put him in a box like, ‘He’s an analytics guy, he’s from MIT, so he looks at the world through one lens.’ But it couldn’t be further than that. He’s as open-minded as anyone I’ve ever been around. He’s very process-driven, which you have to be in this day and age with so much media and so much expectations. He does a great job looking at the content of a person and what a potential manager could bring — not only to the players but to the organization and being an advocate.”"

For now, San Francisco Giants fans will have to enjoy the final farewell of the latest Giants great.

And when winter comes, fans will need to be prepared for a media whirlwind of speculation on who might be chosen as his successor.