SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Brian Sabean and the San Francisco Giants were closing in Thursday on a new multiyear contract extension for the general manager.
An official in Major League Baseball familiar with the negotiations, requesting anonymity because the deal had not yet been finalized, said an announcement could come as soon as Friday. Sabean is in his 11th season as GM.
The sides have been in talks about a new contract despite owner Peter Magowan having said during spring training that he would re-evaluate Sabean’s status toward the end of the 2007 season. The Giants start the second half Friday night against the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers sitting in last place in the NL West at 38-48, 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Padres.
. That’s why I was so excited to come up here (from San Diego) and be manager and work for Brian. I have tremendous respect for Brian. There’s nobody better.”
San Francisco hasn’t made the playoffs since 2003, one year after falling short in seven games to the wild-card Angels in the World Series.
In February, Magowan pledged his support for Sabean despite the fact the Giants have missed the playoffs for three straight years. Magowan didn’t point all the blame at the GM and said he fully expected Sabean to stick around.
“I think a lot of Brian,” Magowan said at the time. “He’s one of the best general managers in the game. We’ve had two disappointing years. We’re all accountable. … We’re all on the hot seat. I’m on the hot seat.”
Sabean, who has said he would like to stay in San Francisco forever, said at the time he understood Magowan’s need to wait. Sabean, who joined the Giants in September 1996, was in the same situation in 2002 and didn’t receive an extension until after the World Series.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported Wednesday that the sides were negotiating an extension.
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