Kapler gets two-year extension
SF secures manager who led club to 107-win season
The Giants rewarded manager Gabe Kapler with a contract extension on Friday after a season that saw San Francisco defy all projections and win the NL West with a franchise-record 107 victories.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the two-year extension goes through the 2024 season.
Kapler, 46, in two seasons has guided the Giants to a 136-86 record.
They held off the Dodgers to win the West and return to the playoffs this season, falling to L.A. in the National League Division Series after just missing the playoffs during the pandemic-shortened
2020 season.
“Gabe has done an extraordinary job in his role as field manager over the past two seasons, is a key contributor to our front office, and the Giants organization and takes great pride in his active engagement with the community,” Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi said in a statement.
“Coming off a season in which his work and leadership were instrumental to our success, it was a high priority for us to provide a level of stability and certainty to our continued partnership. We’re thrilled about today’s announcement.”
The Giants had not reached the playoffs since 2016 before this season’s breakthrough — the winningest season since the franchise moved to San Francisco.
Kapler is one of three finalists for NL Manager of the Year, joining Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell and St. Louis’ Mike Shildt. Kapler has already been named the 2021 NL Manager of the Year by The Sporting News.
“I’m honored to work for the San Francisco Giants and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to build on the work of the last two years,”
Kapler said in a statement. “There is nowhere I’d rather be, and I am excited to continue preparing with the entire organization.”
Prior to joining the Giants, Kapler spent two seasons as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies (2018-2019) and before that was the Director of Player Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers from November 2014 until he was named the Phillies manager in October 2017.
As a player, Kapler played in parts of 12 seasons in the Major leagues from 1998-2010 with Detroit (1998-1999), Texas (20002002), Colorado (2002-03), Boston (2003-2006), Milwaukee (2008) and Tampa Bay (20092010).