SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Roughly five months after being fired by the Giants, Bob Melvin is re-joining the Athletics as a special assistant to baseball operations, the team announced on Thursday morning.
Melvin, 64, spent the last two seasons as San Francisco’s manager in 2024 and ’25. In his two seasons at the helm, Melvin had a 161-163 record as manager and failed to lead the Giants to the playoffs in both seasons.
The Giants picked up Melvin’s option for the 2026 season in July before firing him after the final game of the regular season. Between Melvin’s salary, manager Tony Vitello’s salary ($3.5 million annually for three years) and Vitello’s $3 million buyout from Tennessee, San Francisco is paying $10.5 million for the manager position this season.
Melvin spent 11 seasons as the manager of the Oakland A’s from 2011-21, posting a 853-764 record and steering Oakland to the playoffs on six occasions (2012-14, 2018-20). In ’12 and ’18, Melvin was named American League Manager of the Year.
Along with Oakland and San Francisco, Melvin managed the Seattle Mariners (2003-04), Arizona Diamondbacks (2005-09) and San Diego Padres (2022-23), winning NL Manager of the Year in 2007 with the Diamondbacks. Melvin has a record of 1678-1588 and ranks 20th all-time in victories.
Melvin, a South Bay product who attended Menlo-Atherton High School, Cal and Cañada College, spent 10 years in the majors before managing. Three of those seasons were spent with the Giants from 1986-88.
Birdsong to start Cactus League opener, Ray to start home opener
Right-hander Hayden Birdsong will start the Giants’ Cactus League opener against the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex. Additionally, left-hander Robbie Ray will get the nod for the team’s Cactus League home opener against the Chicago Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium.
The list of position players who will play on Saturday against the Mariners includes top prospect Bryce Eldridge, left fielder Heliot Ramos, center fielder Harrison Bader and infielders Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss.
With the Giants’ rotation full, the 24-year-old Birdsong’s best shot at a spot on San Francisco’s Opening Day roster is as a reliever. Birdsong cracked last year’s Opening Day roster as a reliever, then was elevated into the rotation after the team demoted Jordan Hicks from the rotation.
This spring will be important for Birdsong given how last year unfolded. Birdsong showed flashes of promise in the first half but mysteriously lost his command beginning in late June. The nadir of his season came in Atlanta when he faced just six batters, failing to retire any of them and totaling four walks.
Following that showing, the Giants demoted Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento, where his command issues persisted. Even as the team needed starting help down the stretch, they opted to keep him in the minors.
“There’s a lot of pitchers in camp and (we’re) just trying to put the best group together,” said general manager Zack Minasian. “Certainly think he has the ability to be a major league starter and a very good one. I think we’ve seen that in flashes. But if we leave camp and feel really strongly that this is one of the best eight guys to go in the ‘pen, it’s at least going to be a consideration.”
Hentges provides injury update
Left-handed reliever Sam Hentges provided an update on his status on Thursday morning, telling reporters that he’s progressing well and “shaking the rust off a little bit.”
Hentges, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal this offseason, is recovering from both left shoulder surgery (September 2024) and right knee surgery (September ’25). He said that his knee is feeling good, his current focus being getting his shoulder “back up to speed.”
“For me, it’s kind of a day-to-day thing,” Hentges said. “For the coaching staff and the trainers, it’s more of a week-to-week. I don’t know if there’s a timetable. I haven’t really asked, to be honest with you because I want to be focused on each day and kind of attack it, whether it’s a heavy day throwing or a day to recover. Just taking that day and trying to continue to progress.”
Hentges has been throwing his entire repertoire during 40-pitch bullpen sessions, which have been broken up into two sets of 20 pitches. He has yet to throw in any of the team’s live bullpen sessions, which have been going on since last Friday. With Hentges behind his fellow relievers, there’s a possibility that he isn’t ready for Opening Day.
“I wouldn’t necessarily phrase it as we’ll play it safe, but we definitely want to be smart,” Minasian said.
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The Giants announced on Thursday morning that Dave Groeschner has been promoted to the team’s vice president of medical and performance.
Groeschner is entering his 30th year with the Giants and his 31st overall in baseball. He most recently served as the team’s senior director of athletic training.
“Gresch’s leadership and expertise for over three decades have been an integral part of this organization’s success,” wrote president of baseball operations Buster Posey in a statement. “I know firsthand the care and dedication that Gresch has for our players and organization. We look forward to his continued influence in this new role.”
Groeschner will join Team USA for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he will have an opportunity to closely monitor right-hander Logan Webb.
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