Don't look now, San Francisco Giants fans, but there might be a leading candidate for the team's managerial position at this time.
According to reports, former MLB catcher Nick Hundley is a top name that the Giants front office is looking to bring in after the team dropped Bob Melvin.
In a new report from MLB writer Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, Ghiroli offers insights into what the Giants are thinking about right now in regard to Hundley coming aboard.
"Former MLB catcher Nick Hundley is considered the favorite for the opening with the San Francisco Giants, where his former teammate, Buster Posey, is the president of baseball operations," Ghiroli wrote.
"Hundley, who is currently part of Young’s front office in Texas, already interviewed with Posey, according to league sources, confirming an initial report by the San Francisco Chronicle," Ghiroli wrote.
"Hundley turned down a chance to interview with the Giants the last time the job opened up, citing family reasons," Ghiroli continues. "He is a big part of the Rangers’ front office and isn’t believed to be considering other managing opportunities outside of the Giants."
Ghiroli adds that the Giants are pretty much in a win-now mode of thought. San Francisco wants to be in the conversation for the National League West Division lead alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Want a list of other managerial candidates out there right now? Ghiroli offers up some names and insights on that matter, too.
"Teams generally hire the inverse of the last person in the job — meaning veterans after a rookie manager and vice versa — though that’s not a guarantee," Ghiroli writes.
"Candidates without managerial experience who could get strong consideration for some of these openings include Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, Cleveland Guardians coaches Kai Correa and Craig Albernaz, Kansas City Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson and Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard."
Hundley played in 12 MLB seasons for the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Giants and Athletics. He primarily was a catcher for those teams, too.
With the majority of Hundley's career with NL teams, it might give him a leg up on other managerial possibilities. He's also put time in front-office work with the Rangers, so he'd have an understanding of how to make a manager-front office relationship work.
Again, though, Hundley would be stepping into the role as a rookie manager. Would the Giants want to go in this direction after having veteran leadership in the dugout with Melvin?
Based on Melvin's results in San Francisco, he didn't really change the landscape of the team on the field record-wise. The Giants are definitely in that win-now mode and want to get a division title next season.