Giants Talk: A San Francisco Giants Podcast

New San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian sits down with Alex Pavlovic to discuss the team's identity and why his lifetime around baseball makes him a good fit for the position. Cole Kuiper and Alex also break down Randy Winn's new role with the team and answer fan's mailbag questions.

Intro:

1:00 - Randy Winn named Vice President of Player Development

7:00 - Austin Slater signs with the Chicago White Sox

9:00 - Which Giants will be back after the non-tender deadline?

12:15 - Mailbag Q’s

Zack Minasian:

22:10 - On becoming a new dad and GM

23:20 - What an interview with Buster Posey is like

24:15 - If the thought he had a chance at the job after Posey's press conference

25:30 - On scouting  Posey when he was a player

27:00 - On the moment he got the GM job

27:45 - What moves he feels stand out in his career

29:00 - Why pitching and defense need to be the Giants' identity moving forward

31:00 - On confidence in Giants' current pitching,

32:45 - Tyler Fitzgerald maybe moving to 2nd and if they need to upgrade shortstop

33:30 - Breaking down the outfield situation

36:00 - On Luis Matos and Marco Luciano's development, expectations for next season

38:50 - On Randy Winn becoming VP of player development, how they plan on approaching player development

41:45 - His background growing up in MLB clubhouses, on the validation from getting the GM job

44:30 - Dynamic between him and his brother Perry, who's GM of the Angels

48:20 - On Tommy Lasorda being his godfather

Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic discuss the Giants' possible infield lineup next season, including if free-agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim could make his way to San Francisco this offseason, along with other possible options this offseason

1:00 – Explaining what the GM meetings are for

2:50 – Uncertainty for the Giants' offseason

9:20 – Why so many former Giants are working together elsewhere

12:50 – Juan Soto watch begins

15:00 – Giants’ infielders breakdown

17:20 – Could Ha-Seong Kim sign with the Giants?

22:00 – Could Willy Adames sign with the Giants?

26:30 – Can Bryce Eldridge continue his “meteoric” rise?

31:35 – What does the future look like for Tyler Fitzgerald & Casey Schmitt?

34:00 – Around the MLB

Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic break down why the Giants promoted Zack Minasian to be their general manager, share their reaction to Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman winning NL Gold Gloves, and discuss if the bullpen is set after several relievers had breakout 2024 seasons.

:45 – Why the Giants hired Zack Minasian as GM

10:00 – Comings and goings in San Francisco

25:50 – Bailey and Chapman win Gold Gloves

27:45 – On the Dodgers' celebration

30:15 – Biggest winners from the Dodgers' World Series win

35:30 – Will Soto be back with the Yankees?

37:45 – Breaking down the bullpen

Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic break down the Giants' starting pitching options this offseason, if they believe Blake Snell will be back with the team and discuss the World Series matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

1:00 – Takeaways from the World Series matchup

11:00 - Do the Giants need to just spend the money this offseason?

14:15 – Comparing the Giants use of bullpen games to the Dodgers this postseason

19:00 – On starting pitching and how they can improve next season

24:00 – Will Blake Snell be back?

28:30 – Pitching free agent options

34:40 – Where do the Giants stand with their young pitchers, are they ready?

36:00 – Will Jordan Hicks remain a starter?

37:45 – Predicting the Giants’ 2025 starting rotation

40:40 – Mailbag Q’s

Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic break down how the Giants might handle arbitration-eligible players, this year’s World Series matchup, and what their future roster could look like. Cole and Alex also answer fan questions about the Giants’ offseason.

:45 - J.P. Martinez promoted to be Giants' new pitching coach

6:15 - Unofficial embargo on news during the World Series

7:30 - How will Giants handle arbitration-eligible players Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Mike Yastrzemski?

21:00 - Breaking down the World Series matchup

25:30 - Discussing the players in the World Series the Giants missed out on

30:30 - What will the Giants’ future roster look like in a few years? And can the Giants sign Juan Soto this offseason?

Cole Kuiper and Alex Pavlovic break down what new president of baseball operations Buster Posey will seek in potential GM candidates and answer fan questions about the Giants’ offseason. Cole and Alex also discuss the MLB playoffs and make their World Series predictions.

1:00 Breaking down NLCS, ALCS matchups

15:00 World Series predictions

16:30 Potential Giants GM candidates

29:30 Are the Giants done with 'heavy lifting' after Matt Chapman deal?

40:00 What does future look like for Marco Luciano, Tyler Fitzgerald, Brett Wisely?

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper look back at the 2024 season and analyze the Giants’ biggest surprises, disappointments and front-office mistakes that resulted in an 80-82 record. They also discuss new president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s potential impact on top prospects such as Bryce Eldridge and Marco Luciano.

3:00 Biggest surprises of 2024 season

7:00 Biggest disappointment

13:00 Breakthrough performance

24:00 Biggest front-office mistake

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper assess Farhan Zaidi’s tenure and look forward to how Buster Posey’s leadership style will translate to his new role. Also, Alex catches up with Posey and Giants chairman Greg Johnson to discuss the search for San Francisco's next general manager and how Buster’s perspective as a player will benefit him in his new job.

8:00 Assessing Farhan's tenure

26:00 Examing Posey's leadership style

33:00 Buster Posey shares 'excitement' of new role

37:45 Posey on GM search

41:30 Greg Johnson on Posey's readiness for new role

Alex Pavlovic and George Kontos discuss what led to the Giants' decision to part ways with Farhan Zaidi, the surprising announcement of Buster Posey as his replacement, and what changes should be made for San Francisco to regain a winning culture.

1:10 Posey named Giants' president of baseball operations

3:00 How Posey can bring winning culture back to San Francisco

10:05 Can Posey be a successful player recruiter?

12:45 What led to Giants' decision to part ways with Zaidi

Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper analyze what we should take away from Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi’s discussion with the media this week in Arizona. Also, Alex and Cole examine the Giants’ recent positive vibes, Grant McCray’s concerning strikeout rate and how Bryce Eldridge’s rise could impact the team’s free agency approach.

1:00 Giants playing well now that pressure is off

7:30 Grant McCray's concerning strikeout rate

12:30 Takeaways from Farhan Zaidi's discussion with media

20:00 How Bryce Eldridge could impact Giants free agency approach

32:00 Previewing the Giants-Cardinals series