The Giants already made one drastic change to their franchise this offseason in hiring Farhan Zaidi away from the Los Angeles Dodgers as their new president of baseball operations. Another year from now, could they add another prominent figure from their archrival?
According to FanCred's Jon Heyman, the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts appeared close to a multiyear contract extension a week ago, but they now sit at a standstill, unable to come to an agreement. Roberts is said to be on vacation overseas, per Heyman, and the sides "remain far apart."
Los Angeles picked up Roberts' $1.1 million option for 2019, meaning he's under contract for next season, but not beyond. If the sides can't come to an agreement on an extension, Roberts essentially will enter next season as a lame-duck manager.
How do the Giants figure into this, you ask? Well, they just might have a managerial opening in one year's time.
Bruce Bochy is entering the final year of his contract, and while the Giants have experienced plenty of success under the future Hall of Fame manager, there is plenty of reason to believe this will be Bochy's last season in orange and black.
If 2019 indeed is Bochy's final season with the Giants, could Roberts be the front-runner to replace him, provided he and the Dodgers don't reach an extension? In many ways, it would be a logical pairing.
Zaidi obviously is familiar with Roberts, having served as general manager of the Dodgers since the beginning of the 2015 season. Roberts was hired as manager the following year, and Los Angeles has won the National League West in every season since, ultimately losing in the World Series each of the last two years.
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Giants fans should be familiar with Roberts as well, and not just because of the last few years. The Dodgers manager spent the final two seasons of his 10-year playing career in San Francisco, batting .252 and stealing 36 bases in 166 games for the orange and black. He also played three seasons in Los Angeles and two in San Diego.
There's still plenty of time for Roberts and the Dodgers to come to an agreement on an extension, but if for whatever reason they don't, he could find another home within NL West a year from now.
