University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello has emerged as a frontrunner for the San Francisco Giants’ managerial opening, yet his hiring is not certain, according to a person familiar with the Giants’ managerial negotiations.
The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of negotiations.
Vitello is the highest-paid coach in collegiate baseball, at more than $3 million a season, and it’s believed he’d have to take a pay cut to manage in the major leagues, where first-time managers earn significantly less.
Posey has interviewed multiple candidates, including Nick Hundley, his former backup catcher with the Giants. They’ve reportedly interviewed former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Kansas City Royals bench coach Vance Wilson.
While many managers still struggle to make $1 million a season at the entry level, the top end of the market has gone up in recent years with Craig Counsell’s five-year, $40 million contract to shift from the Milwaukee Brewers dugout to the Chicago Cubs, and Dave Roberts’ $8.1 million annual salary with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the past five years, the pay scales have made a move from the pro ranks to the colleges more likely, with coaches such as former Minnesota Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson moving on to the same job at LSU before taking the head position at Georgia.
Posey meeting Vitello’s market would pose some risk for the second-year baseball chief, with the fiery Volunteers coach having to adjust to both the pro game and professional personalities. Posey made significant changes to the Giants roster this past winter, yet the club finished 81-81, the fourth consecutive season the club finished between 79 and 81 wins.
The Athletic first reported that Vitello and the Giants were in advanced discussions about the managerial opening.