The San Francisco Giants fired manager Gabe Kapler on Friday after a late-season collapse that dropped the team out of playoff contention and prompted questions about the franchise's direction going forward.
The firing comes with three games remaining in the season and the Giants sporting a 78-81 record. In a statement, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said he made the «recommendation to ownership» to fire Kapler and did so after «receiving their approval.» Kapler, 48, took over as Giants manager in 2020 and by 2021 shepherded the team to a 107-55 season — the only time in the last 11 years a team finished ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
The Dodgers beat the Giants in the division series that year, and San Francisco struggled to replicate its success last year en route to an 81-81 season.
While owner Greg Johnson committed to keeping Zaidi and Kapler on through at least the end of their contracts in 2024, he backtracked on Kapler, opening up another managerial spot in a winter that's expected to be loaded with vacancies.