SF Giants reportedly set to interview Red Sox’s Jason Varitek

The search for the next manager of the San Francisco Giants took an unexpected turn on Friday. Joel Sherman of the New York Post and MLB Network reported the Red Sox granted the Giants permission to interview Boston Red Sox World Series hero Jason Varitek, who is currently employed as a game planning coordinator/catching coach with Boston.

Sherman said Varitek is expected to take part in an “informal phone call” with the Giants brass in the next few days.

Varitek will join Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken, who made history as the first woman interviewed for an MLB manager job, third base coach Mark Hallberg and bench coach and interim manager Kai Correa as candidates that have reportedly interviewed for the position.

Former Giants catcher Stephen Vogt, currently a coach with the Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers hitting coach Donnie Ecker are also believed to be under consideration, according to the Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly.

Varitek enjoyed a 15-year playing career, all with Boston, earning three all-star selections and two World Series rings. The former catcher was instrumental in the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series, which snapped the team’s 86-year title “curse.”

After retiring in 2011, Varitek has worked in various front office and coaching roles with the Red Sox organization, becoming a full-time uniformed coach in 2021. He has never managed a major league team.