Giants Predicted to Part Ways with Tony Vitello, Hire Veteran Manager Buck Showalter

Showalter, a 4-time Manager of the Year with 1,727 career wins, could bring stability to the Giants if they move on from Vitello.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:07pm by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco Giants made a bold move by hiring Tony Vitello as their new manager following the 2025 season, but the transition has not been smooth so far. With Vitello already making lineup changes just two games into the season, the Giants may look to veteran manager Buck Showalter as a potential replacement if things continue to unravel.

Why it matters

The Giants are a historic franchise that took a risk in hiring the relatively inexperienced Vitello. If he is unable to adapt to the rigors of managing at the MLB level, the team may need to turn to an experienced, proven winner like Showalter to stabilize the organization and get them back on track.

The details

Vitello was hired due to his strong alignment with the Giants' organizational vision, including his leadership, competitiveness, and commitment to player development. However, his early lineup changes have raised concerns that he may still be operating with a mindset better suited for the college game, where he previously coached. If the Giants struggle early, they could look to replace Vitello with Showalter, a 4-time Manager of the Year who has 1,727 career wins but is yet to win a World Series.

  • The Giants hired Tony Vitello as their new manager following the 2025 season.
  • Vitello has already made lineup changes just two games into the 2026 season.

The players

Tony Vitello

The Giants' new manager, hired following the 2025 season due to his strong alignment with the organization's vision and his background in player development.

Buck Showalter

A veteran MLB manager with 1,727 career wins and 4 Manager of the Year awards, who could be a potential replacement for Vitello if the Giants' struggles continue.

Buster Posey

The Giants' President of Baseball Operations, who praised Vitello's leadership, competitiveness, and commitment to developing players when he was hired.

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What they’re saying

“Throughout our search, Tony's leadership, competitiveness, and commitment to developing players stood out. His ability to build strong, cohesive teams and his passion for the game align perfectly with the values of our organization. We look forward to the energy and direction he will bring, along with the memories to be made, as we focus on the future of Giants baseball.”

— Buster Posey, Giants President of Baseball Operations

“The one thing you're afforded in baseball is patience; two games into a 162-game season is not the time to panic. But Vitello's lineup change suggests that he's still operating under a different mindset. Coaching in a 60-ish game season in college baseball, with big talent disparities, is vastly different than a league full of the best in the world. He'll have to change his mindset if he wants to succeed with the Giants, because rejiggering your lineup after two games smacks of a man without either answers or confidence.”

— Wynston Wilcox, FanSided Writer

“Showalter is a proven winner who has succeeded everywhere he's been, though the fact that he's never won a pennant in parts of 22 seasons might scare the front office off. Still, Showalter could at least bring short-term stability to a Giants organization that'll desperately need some if they move on from Vitello. That alone might be a reason to warrant giving him an interview.”

— Jake Elman, FanSided Writer

What’s next

If the Giants' struggles continue under Vitello, the team's front office may decide to interview Buck Showalter as a potential replacement manager.

The takeaway

The Giants' decision to hire the relatively inexperienced Tony Vitello as their new manager was a bold move, but early signs suggest he may be struggling to adapt to the rigors of managing at the MLB level. If the team's performance does not improve, they may need to turn to a veteran, proven winner like Buck Showalter to provide stability and get the organization back on track.