Sad news for San Francisco Giants: He will not return…
“It feels like the place I need to be,” said Matt Williams upon joining the Giants again.
The San Francisco Giants traded third baseman Matt Williams to the Cleveland Indians 27 years ago on Monday. Giants supporters did not particularly enjoy that trade, even though Jeff Kent—the eventual National League MVP—was acquired in exchange.
After over thirty years, Williams has returned. The Giants revealed last week that Williams will finally don a Giants uniform once more as their third-base coach for the next season under new manager Bob Melvin.
Indeed, that has particular importance.
When Williams spoke with Bay Area reporters during a Zoom chat on Thursday, she added, “It feels full-circle to me.” “I’m happy to be back. My roots are in it. Having worked in San Francisco for the first ten years of my career, I’ve always been eager to return.
“It feels like home, like this is where I should be,”
This month marks Williams’ 58th birthday. During his playing career, he was a five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, and 2001 World Series champion (with Arizona as the bench coach). After leading the Washington Nationals to 96 victories in 2014, he was also awarded National League Manager of the Year.
After two years in Oakland (2018–19) and two more in San Diego (2022–23), he is now Melvin’s reliable sidekick. Between his time as a manager with the A’s and Padres, Williams worked in Korea.
Williams believes that he and Melvin have a clear mental rapport now that they have traveled together.
He remarked, “I just feel like we know each other so well.” We frequently have similar thought processes—I attempt to read his thoughts, and he reads mine. Since I’m effectively his right-hand guy on the field, our bond is crucial.
Like Melvin, Williams has started the process of getting to know the staff and players of the Giants. He’s excited to get to know the infielders and develop a plan to strengthen their defense; he brought up shortstop prospect Marco Luciano in particular.
That will be considered one of Williams’ main duties.
The ability to catch and pitch is, in his opinion, the secret to Oracle Park. “My responsibility is to assist us in catching it, and we will definitely focus on that in order to be the best defensive club we can be this winter and in spring training.”
One intriguing free agency option is former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman, who played in Toronto for the previous two seasons. In Oakland, Chapman played for Melvin and Williams.
One of San Francisco’s top targets in free agency this winter is Chapman, according to a report this week from MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Heyman claims that Chapman has already met with the Giants.
Williams remarked, “I like him as a player not because of his skill but rather because of the way he approaches the game.” “He’s the best candidate I’ve seen for the job. Although free agency is a different thing, he would undoubtedly be welcomed to our club.
Williams was also questioned over the major baseball news that came out on Thursday: Major League owners formally approved John Fisher, the owner of the A’s, proposal to relocate the franchise to Las Vegas.
Williams remarked of his time in Oakland, “The stadium was not filled when I was there, but those fans were diehard.” “They had a deep affection for their squad. It’s a little disappointing that this team might be going on. If that occurs, I simply regret that the club will be departing Oakland and that
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