Blake Snell's Opt Out Emblematic of Flawed Front Office Decision Making by Fired GM

The San Francisco Giants just saw another in a long line of costly mistakes by Farhan Zaidi walk out the door with little to show for the cost

Nov 8, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager's Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Farhan Zaidi’s tenure as the San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations ended on a low note, with two of his more recent decisions particularly contributing to his dismissal.

His signings of Jorge Soler and Blake Snell, which were initially seen as bold moves to elevate the team, ultimately led to disappointing outcomes and cast doubt on the Giants’ approach to roster building.

The Giants signed Jorge Soler in the 2023 offseason, bringing in a powerful bat but at a high cost. Despite Soler’s reputation as a slugger, his production fell short of expectations.

His inconsistency at the plate became a frustration for Giants fans and management alike, and his contract became a burden on the payroll.

San Francisco eventually traded him, offloading the remaining portion of his deal at the trade deadline to the Atlanta Braves but not before the team had already invested a significant sum for minimal returns. Soler’s acquisition ended up being emblematic of Zaidi’s eagerness to invest in big names without considering the long-term impact on the organization’s payroll flexibility or on-field consistency.

Another costly decision was signing Blake Snell, who the Giants hoped would provide the team with a dependable ace. In pursuing Snell, however, the Giants had to sacrifice a valuable draft pick, as he was tied to a qualifying offer.

While Snell had been a Cy Young winner and was known for his strikeout potential, his performance with the Giants fell below expectations, with inconsistent outings and struggles with control overshadowing his achievements.

To add to the disappointment, Snell chose to opt out of his contract after a single season, leaving the Giants with a void in their rotation and the cost of a forfeited draft pick without the long-term benefit of Snell’s presence in the rotation.

Zaidi’s tenure had seen other missteps, but the contracts given to Soler and Snell became focal points. These moves highlighted his tendency to target high-risk players without fully accounting for either their fit with the Giants or the cost of these acquisitions on the team’s future.

By sacrificing draft capital for Snell and overcommitting to Soler, Zaidi left the Giants in a precarious position, prompting ownership to make a change in leadership by bringing minority owner and franchise legend Buster Posey into the front office as Zaidi's replacement.

Ultimately, Zaidi’s decisions were marked by a series of miscalculations that did not align with the Giants’ vision, contributing to an era that will likely be remembered for missed opportunities rather than success, and whose mistakes are still being paid for by the organization.