Padres’ moves look different with NL West rival hoarding Hall of Fame firepower upstairs

As the San Diego Padres have finally come to an agreement to make Craig Stammen their next manager, a division rival of theirs made an under-the-radar addition to its front office.

The San Francisco Giants have hired former player and manager Bruce Bochy as a special assistant to President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey. Bochy, a four-time World Series champion (three with the Giants), adds experience to the front office in how to manage a team over a 162-game season.

The Giants hired former Tennessee Volunteer Tony Vitello as their new manager back in October, and he has never managed as many games as he will in 2026. Adding Bochy as an advisor could be crucial to his development.

Padres’ reset continues while NL West rival leans on Hall of Fame names for its front office flex

Posey is entering his second season at the helm of the front office, after taking on the role ahead of the 2025 season.

The Giants aren’t new to adding former managers to their front office, as they hired Dusty Baker almost two years ago to fill a role similar to Bochy’s.

After leaving the Giants as their manager following the 2019 season, Bochy joined the Texas Rangers as their new manager ahead of 2023. In his first year, he won the World Series with them over the Arizona Diamondbacks. After two consecutive seasons missing the postseason, he stepped down.

At age 70, Bochy can provide insight from a player’s as well as a manager’s perspective, making him a vital piece of the front office.

It is obvious that the hire wasn’t just because of Bochy’s track record, but also for him to be a source and mentor that Tony Vitello can lean on as he enters his first year in MLB.

Vitello has never managed a bullpen for as long as he will in 2026. He will be learning from one of the best in recent memory, as Bochy can manage a starting rotation and bullpen at an elite level. Some newsworthy info for the Padres to potentially mimic.