Why Buster Posey, Giants felt time was right to pick up Bob Melvin's 2026 option originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
PHOENIX — Bob Melvin is in his 22nd season as a manager for his fifth different organization. He knows as well as anybody that it can be an unpredictable job, one that has you on top of the baseball world one year and on the hot seat the next, and this season he has experienced plenty of highs and lows.
Through it all, he tried not to think about his future, and he had no expectation that his contract would be discussed in July, or anytime soon. That changed Monday, when president of baseball operations Buster Posey informed him that the Giants were picking up an option for 2026 that will bring Melvin back for a third season.
The move was not made hastily, Posey said. He has been evaluating Melvin since the start of spring training and had spent several weeks discussing his status with ownership and other members of the front office, but the timing was certainly fascinating.
The press release came a day after the Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games. This is the low point of the Posey Era so far, but he certainly made a statement Tuesday. Posey claimed it wasn’t intentional, but it did mean a lot to Melvin.
“It kind of speaks to who Buster is, that he knows what a grind this is and he knows how hard we wear it — myself and the coaching staff — so it doesn’t surprise me,” Melvin said. “It’s probably unique as far as the timing goes, but it doesn’t surprise me with him. He’s been very supportive of us as a staff. Our dialogue has been very good from spring training to now. We’re aligned on how we see things and where this team and where this organization are going, so it’s very much appreciated by me and by the staff, as well.”
That latter part was notable given how the last couple of weeks have gone. This was a vote of confidence in Melvin, but also his hand-picked coaching staff.
Third base coach Matt Williams and hitting coach Pat Burrell have come under fire from segments of the fan base and media lately, but Posey said he has faith in the group. Four years removed from his own playing career, Posey shifted most of the blame to other parts of the organization.
“From my perspective, and also my perspective as a player, sometimes when you’re going through a rough patch there’s a tendency to want to point the finger at coaches, and ultimately I believe we have great players, and I still believe in that group of players, but it boils down to them needing to play better baseball,” Posey said. “If anybody deserves any blame from the top, it should be on me, it shouldn’t be on the manager or coaching staff. I’m the one who sets the roster. I felt like with all those things considered, this was a good time for me to show my belief in Bob and this coaching staff.”
Posey’s words on Tuesday brought back memories of his “it’s go time” declaration last month. He reiterated that he strongly believes in this group, but at some point, the production needs to be there. That’s not a message that will upset any players. The team leaders feel the same way.
“Hundred percent, hundred percent,” Logan Webb said. “At the end of the day, it’s us players that go out there and throw the ball and catch the ball and hit the ball. The coaching staff is there to help out, and these guys work their asses off every single day. They’re the first here and the last to leave.
“When we’re on a plane ride, you’ll see us players in the back playing cards or watching movies or something and those guys are up in the front scouting the next team … these guys put a ton of work in and at the end of the day it’s our jobs to go out there and be better and play better and ultimately win the game.”
Webb said he was hopeful the Giants would pick up Melvin’s option, adding that the clubhouse always has had his back. Fellow team leader Matt Chapman said his longtime manager deserved another year.
“I’m so pumped for him,” Chapman said.
Melvin is 125-122 as the manager of the team he grew up rooting for. He has 1,642 career wins, but he is still looking for his first World Series title. That pursuit will continue in orange and black.
“We have a nucleus going forward,” Melvin said. “To be able to be part of that is a big deal for me, especially in the Bay Area and San Francisco.”
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D.J. Short
