Buster Posey says he isn't considering Bruce Bochy to be Giants' next manager

SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey will sift through a laundry list of managerial candidates in the coming days and weeks to replace the recently-fired Bob Melvin. While Posey is keeping his names close to his chest, he revealed that the Giants’ next skipper will not be Bruce Bochy.

Posey told reporters on Wednesday morning that after speaking to Bochy a couple days ago, he doesn’t “see us going that route” when discussing Bochy’s candidacy for the position.

The Giants’ president of baseball operations said that finding a long-term manager played into the decision and that “the door is always open here for some sort of role.”

“Obviously, a tremendous amount of respect,” Posey said. “It’s interesting. When I was a player, I didn’t consider Boch necessarily a friend. I don’t think that’s a bad thing because he had this reverence and respect that he demanded from his players. But now, post playing, I consider Boch a friend and somebody I know I can pick the phone up and call anytime and ask anything from him. That’s where I’m at with him.”

Aside from Bochy, Posey remained tight-lipped regarding other candidates. When asked about how his search is coming into picture and if it could include NCAA coaches, Posey said he “can’t expand on that because I mentioned I’m going to keep it tight.” Posey plans on speaking with candidates this week.

On Monday morning, Posey was asked about Bochy following the team’s decision to fire Melvin and said he didn’t know Bochy’s status. Several hours later, Bochy and the Texas Rangers mutually agreed to end his tenure as manager.

Posey’s decision to eliminate Bochy as a candidate has validity given the Giants’ recent lack of managerial stability. Melvin’s replacement — whoever it ends up being — will be the team’s third manager in the last four seasons (not including interim manager Kai Correa).

Bochy, 70, could be on the cusp of retirement and likely wouldn’t have lasted more than a handful of seasons if he was hired to replace Melvin. Ruling out Bochy likely also rules out other older, experienced managers such as well.

“I most definitely value stability,” Posey said. “I think stability and success are correlated. A lot of times, we’re in the business of production. If production doesn’t happen, I think you’re going to see more turnover. We both know that as well that it’s our responsibility to create stability through winning and putting hopefully what’s an entertaining product out there on the field that our fans are excited about.”

When asked on Monday what he’s looking for in a manager, Posey said “age is somewhat irrelevant” and “you can have different takes on” experience, but emphasized he wants someone who will be “obsessive” about the work and getting the most out of players and staff.

Posey iterated that he wants his next manager to have agency in next season’s coaching staff. He described the possibility of having an associate manager as “interesting” and said he wants to keep his options open but didn’t have a fully-formed opinion on the role.

“I do think there will be more input, especially having with having gone through this a year now and gathering different information,” Posey said. “What we’ve relayed to our coaches is just that: that there will be agency for the new manager. We’ll place a recommendation with the manager, but ultimately, they’re free to look at other opportunities as well.”

Posey shares thoughts on season

Despite finishing 81-81 and missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year, Posey said “there were a lot of positives this year” and highlighted the need for more consistency going forward. Several players expressed that the Giants were better than a .500 team, and Posey didn’t entirely disagree with the notion.

“The simplest way I look at it is that the record is the record. That’s where we finished,” Posey said. “You can probably make a case that we left some out there. I think any team probably can look back at their season and say they left some wins out there.

“I guess when I think about are we a better team, do I look at some of our players and know that there’s more there from them? Yes, absolutely. … So, ultimately, do I believe it’s a better team than our record? Yes, I do. We have to go and prove that by performing.”

At the conclusion of Wednesday’s press conference, Posey was asked to evaluate his first season as the Giants’ president of baseball operations.

“Ultimately, self-evaluation still comes down to production. It comes down to whether a team performs and gets them to the playoffs and competes for a championship. That’s always the bar in my mind,” Posey said. “There’s been a lot that I have learned. I have a great group around me with (general manager) Zack (Minasian) and (assistant general manager) Jeremy Shelley who’s been here forever.

“No matter what you’re doing. No matter if you’re a reporter, if you’re a baseball player, if you’re an executive, there’s always room to look in the mirror and say, ‘How can I get better?’ I don’t think that ever stops. I don’t think if you stops if you win a championship or if you’re elevated to a new position. You’re always looking to improve and get better. … I don’t think there’s ever going to be a time where I say, ‘Gosh, I nailed this.’ There’s always going to be room for improvement.”