The San Francisco Giants have made their play for Tony Vitello, offering the Tennessee baseball coach what’s expected to be one of the richest managerial contracts in baseball. But Vitello’s had the offer since the weekend and still hasn’t said yes.
“Everything we hear is that he does want this. And the Giants are going to have to make it worth his while to leave Tennessee… The ball is in his court, this is the guy they’ve offered the job to,” The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly said.
What makes this different is just how torn Vitello seems about leaving Knoxville. For most college coaches, an MLB offer is an automatic yes.
“I don’t think some understand how odd it is that Tony Vitello didn’t immediately accept an offer to become an MLB manager. For a college coach to even consider staying is testament to how torn he is about the decision. Giants are a good org with arguably the world’s best park,” WBIR’s Wes Rucker wrote.
Vitello showed up to Tennessee’s open scrimmage Tuesday, where fans chanted for him to stay. He looked more tense than usual, which tells you everything about where his head’s at right now.
The way I see it, job security is what’s really making this decision tough. At Tennessee, Vitello’s got something most coaches dream about – stability and love from an entire fanbase.
“Latest update on Tony Vitello, which is understandable given the spot he’s currently in. He has long-term security. There’s a lot of risk in making a move where that security may not be as strong. The tenure of an MLB manager can often be a short one,” FanSided’s Jeff Young wrote.
That’s the one thing the Giants can’t promise him.
The next few years are make-or-break for San Francisco’s front office. If they don’t start winning soon, Vitello could find himself back on the job market faster than he’d like. MLB managers get fired all the time – even good ones.
At Tennessee, he delivered the program’s first national championship and became a folk hero in the process. That kind of adoration doesn’t come around twice, and he knows it. If he stays in Knoxville, he’s probably there for life.
All things considered, this decision comes down to whether Vitello wants the security of being a legend at Tennessee or the challenge of trying to turn around a Giants franchise that’s been spinning it’s wheels for years.
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