A frontrunner has reportedly emerged in the San Francisco Giants’ search for their next manager.

Bob Melvin, who just finished his second season leading the Padres, will interview for the job, The Athletic reported, citing anonymous sources who also said the longtime A’s skipper and Bay Area native “instantly becomes the … leading candidate” to replace Gabe Kapler, whom the Giants fired last month.

Melvin, 61, was granted permission by the Padres to interview with an NL West rival, potentially setting him to follow in the footsteps of another manager who fled north from San Diego, Bruce Bochy, whose three World Series rings give some credence to the idea.

A native of Menlo Park who worked with Farhan Zaidi in Oakland and an experienced, highly respected manager, Melvin initially emerged as one of the top potential candidates to succeed Kapler. That speculation was only fueled by reports of a growing rift between Melvin and Padres general manager A.J. Preller.

But at the conclusion of a disappointing 82-80 season, in which they failed to build on their NLCS appearance in year one under Melvin, Preller reaffirmed that both men would be back for 2024. According to The Athletic and multiple other reports, however, the tension between the two had not been alleviated.

Related Articles

• San Francisco Giants |
  Ousted SF Giants manager Kapler interviews to lead Red Sox front office, per report
• San Francisco Giants |
  SF Giants’ rookie catcher named finalist for Gold Glove
• San Francisco Giants |
  Brian Sabean, SF Giants’ World Series architect, says he no longer roots for club
• San Francisco Giants |
  Big-screen ‘Barbie’ movie night coming to Oracle Park
• San Francisco Giants |
  How much does experience matter in SF Giants’ managerial search?

Melvin, a three-time manager of the year, would bring instant credibility. He has accumulated a 1,517–1,425 record (.516 winning percentage) over 20 seasons helming the reins of four organizations, more than half of those on the other side of the Bay, where he led the A’s to six playoff appearances in 11 seasons.

Melvin’s is the seventh name to formally surface in San Francisco’s search, but his credentials set him apart.

The Giants have reportedly also received permission to interview Stephen Vogt, a catcher for five years on Melvin’s teams in Oakland, and Jason Varitek, the longtime Red Sox catcher, who would each be first-time managers. They have also met with four internal candidates — bench coach Kai Correa, third base coach Mark Hallberg, assistant coach Alyssa Nakken and special assistant Ron Wotus — with no prior managerial experience.