Giants reportedly set to make Tony Vitello one of MLB's highest paid managers in risky move

The San Francisco Giants are searching for their next manager, and the process has been an interesting one for Buster Posey. From the start, Posey has been clear about the qualities the organization is looking for in their next leader. He also didn’t hide the fact that the end of last season was a major disappointment.

“After careful evaluation, we determined that making a change in leadership was in the best interest of the team," said Posey. "The last couple of months have been both disappointing and frustrating for all of us, and we did not perform up to our standards. We now turn our focus to identifying a new leader to guide us forward."

From early on, an intriguing candidate emerged: Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello.

“Here’s one out-of-the-box name who fits the high-motor description: Tony Vitello, who transformed the University of Tennessee from a bottom-feeder in the Southeastern Conference into perhaps the brashest and most talented program in the country,” The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported. “It’s possible that Vitello and Posey have already spoken; both were at Coors Field when the Giants played a three-game series against the Rockies earlier this month.”

While the idea may have seemed far-fetched initially, it now appears the Giants are ready to go all in on Vitello — potentially making him one of the highest-paid managers before ever leading a major league team.

“Vitello almost certainly will not be paid as an entry-level hire. He is the second-highest-paid coach in Division I with an annual salary of more than $3 million, and he is leaving the comfort of his fiefdom for a job that offers anything but stability. Vitello was already making more than half the managers in the major leagues; given the cost of living in San Francisco and what he’d be leaving behind, it’s not impossible to believe that he will command one of the top salaries among his new cohort,” Baggarly wrote.

This is a surprising and nearly unprecedented move. Still, it won’t be easy to lure Vitello away from what he’s built in Tennessee for a new opportunity.

This move truly comes out of left field, but the Giants appear to have made their decision. An announcement could come soon, with many believing the deal is close to being finalized.

More MLB news: