Kurtenbach: The SF Giants can’t afford another season of Farhan Zaidi, and they know it

Last season, a disastrous September cost Giants manager Gabe Kapler his job.

A head had to roll, and Kapler’s was deemed both big and round enough to be a viable sacrifice.

Will another disastrous September bring the same fate to Farhan Zaidi?

Because it’s looking like another sacrifice is needed.

And Zaidi’s head should be next on the chopping block.

As of Monday morning, the Giants are six games under .500, a comical 9.5 back of the third wild card spot in the National League, and closer to the last-place Rockies than the first-place Dodgers in the division.

If this isn’t a calamity, I don’t know what is. These guys stink.

And no one should have faith that Zaidi is the man who can fix the problem he created.

It doesn’t even sound like Zaidi has faith he can turn this thing around.

When it comes to the roster, the buck stops with the head of baseball operations. And yet he’s still out gaslighting the fanbase, trying to find any angle that can give him enough plausible deniability to avoid scrutiny and, perhaps, a full-on fan mutiny.

A few weeks ago, Zaidi said the team’s trade deadline moves were about “creating opportunities for young players.” That’s why he claimed he traded veterans Jorge Soler and Alex Cobb for scrap metal.

(Actually, scrap metal might prove more valuable.)

But then, on a Thursday KNBR hit, when asked about what lessons were learned from this disaster of a season, Zaidi offered this:

“I think the thing we gotta ask ourselves as we build up this team is ‘Do we need more veteran depth?'”

Does this man hear himself?

Does he really think this stuff will help him avoid a vote of no confidence?

Either way, the dissonance screams incompetence.

Even if this is all a byproduct of clumsy communication, the last time I checked, someone in Zaidi’s position is required to be a good communicator, not only with the fan base but also with free agents and the players on the roster.

Perhaps I’m the slow one, but the Giants’ rough free-agency sales pitches are making more sense.

How many strikes is this against Zaidi now?

Last time I checked, you only get three before you’re out in baseball.

Zaidi is under contract, in full, for one more season, he confirmed on Thursday.

And the groundwork for replacing him might already be set. Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported that Buster Posey, not Zaidi, took the Matt Chapman contract extension over the finish line after ownership (which includes Posey) “became so frustrated by the lack of immediate progress between Zaidi and agent Scott Boras after talks began in August.”

Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?

The Giants’ organizational issues cannot solely be placed on Zaidi’s shoulders. Those above and below him on the pecking order have to wear this failure of a season, as well. An ownership group that wants to “somewhat break even” and Bob Melvin’s bizarre management are part of the problem, too.

However, the fact remains that Zaidi puts the team together, and six years into his tenure, he only has one winning season to his name. And worse yet, he’s running a franchise with no overt direction.

Zaidi couldn’t spin this product, even if he had the oratory capabilities.

There’s a concept in business called the Peter Principle. It suggests that one is promoted until they reach a level of incompetence.

There’s little doubt in my mind that Zaidi has a role in baseball. No one works the bottom end of a roster — spots 20 to 26 — better. But that’s the role of a No. 2, and he’s the Grand Poobah.

He’s the Peter Principle personified.

What more does Giants ownership need to see?

Why bother keeping Zaidi around for what would be a lame-duck 2025?

A clean slate offseason would be the right move — take this rickety building down to the studs. Sadly, there’s no way that the Giants’ ownership would make such moves. A rebuild would undoubtedly jeopardize that all-important bottom line, so the concept won’t even be entertained.

But sustained mediocrity won’t do any entertaining, either.

And that’s all you’ll get with Zaidi.