November 2nd 2024.
Buster Posey had a big decision to make as he stepped into his role as the Giants' new president of baseball operations. His first major task was to find a new general manager to replace the outgoing Pete Putila. After listening to Posey's introductory news conference, Zack Minasian believed he was the perfect fit for the job. And in the end, Posey agreed. On Friday, the Giants announced Minasian as their new general manager.
But interestingly enough, when Posey first began his search, Minasian wasn't even on his radar. It wasn't until he received some recommendations from trusted colleagues in the industry that he began considering Minasian as a potential candidate.
"I'll be honest," Posey admitted. "I didn't even think of Zack as a candidate when I started this process. But when his name was brought to my attention, I was open-minded and decided to give him a chance. And now, here we are a month later, with Zack as our new general manager. No offense, Zack," Posey joked.
For Zack Minasian, being overlooked initially by Posey was not taken as an insult. In fact, he was grateful for the opportunity to even be considered for the job. "Buster called me and asked about my interest level," Minasian shared. "I told him that I am a Giant first and foremost. My wife and I love this city and we even had our first child here. The organization has been amazing to me since day one, so it was important for me to continue on with the Giants in any role that Buster felt was best. And when he asked me to interview for this position, I was elated. I feel very fortunate."
Minasian joined the Giants in 2019 as the team's vice president of professional scouting. And while Posey was still an active player at the time, he was impressed by Minasian's ability to be available for players without being overbearing. And even though Minasian wasn't initially on Posey's radar, he ultimately checked all the boxes when it came to finding someone who shared similar visions and goals for the team.
Now, as the new general manager, Minasian will have to hit the ground running. With free agency starting on Monday, he will need to make some important decisions, including potentially signing left-hander Blake Snell and pursuing 26-year-old superstar Juan Soto. But Posey and Minasian are both confident in their ability to make the right moves for the team.
"When it comes to roster construction, we want to be as complete as possible on both sides of the ball," Posey explained. "We want strong pitching, good defense, and the ability to score runs in different ways."
Minasian also brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having spent 14 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers in various positions. He credits his mentor, former Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, for teaching him the ropes and giving him the opportunity to be a part of successful trades for players like CC Sabathia, Zack Greinke, and Josh Hader.
But Minasian also has a unique advantage in the fact that his brother, Perry Minasian, is currently the general manager for the Los Angeles Angels. With Zack's promotion, the two brothers become the first siblings to simultaneously hold general manager positions in Major League Baseball. While they mainly talk about their families and children, Zack has had the opportunity to observe his brother's management style and learn from him.
And as for the dynamic between Minasian and Posey, they both anticipate a "shared responsibility" when it comes to running the team and handling media responsibilities. "I'm here to help put a great team on the field, and that involves being present and having conversations with people," Posey stated. "That's how I intend to operate."
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