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Tony Vitello will be the next manager of the San Francisco Giants. He is making an unprecedented jump from college baseball to the MLB.
Terms of his agreement are still being worked out. While a salary has not yet been revealed, there are a number of interesting details surrounding his future contract.
The Giants fired Bob Melvin following a 2025 season in which the club went 81-81. San Francisco finished .500 or worse for a fourth straight campaign and missed the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
After an offseason search, the franchise landed on Vitello.
Who is Tony Vitello?
The Tennessee baseball coach has been at the helm in Knoxville for eight seasons. He led the Vols to a trio of College World Series appearances while winning one national championship.
UT represented his first head coaching gig. Prior, he’d been an assistant at high-powered baseball programs in Missouri, TCU, and Arkansas.
Despite the lack of experience, he thrived.
Vitello won more than 72% of his games, posting a 341-131 overall record at Tennessee. He’s proven the ability to compete at the college level.
Now, he looks to take the next step. It’s one that’s not been done before.
He will reportedly become the Giants’ replacement for Bob Melvin. He’s apparently taking less money to do so.
The Giants will (reportedly) not match the Vols.
Tennessee was paying Tony Vitello $3.3 million in annual salary and benefits. San Francisco is not going to match that rate according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
There are multiple factors that would play a role in that decision.
The first is a looming buyout of the previous coach. Melvin, who just wrapped up his second year with the team, is owed $4 million in 2026.
The second is that lacking MLB resume.
Vitello has no experience at the professional level as either a manager or assistant. He will now lead one of baseball’s most notable franchises.
The Giants are already taking a risk in that sense. They won’t want to amplify it with an unreasonable contract agreement.
Tony Vitello, who was earning $3.3 million annually with salary and benefits, will be taking a paycut to manage the Giants in his new deal. The Giants also still owe fired Bob Melvin $4 million in 2026. https://t.co/XSzu5KZu0c
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 22, 2025
San Francisco may also be on the hook for Vitello’s buyout to Tennessee. The coach signed an extension in 2024. He now owes the school $4 million.
Conflicting reports on Tony Vitello’s salary cause confusion.
Nightengale seemed to backtrack a bit after gather more information. It seems the Giants will at least be on par with what Tennessee was paying the coach.
The San Francisco Giants officially announce the hiring of Tony Vitello and will pay him the highest contract in MLB history for a first-year manager.
He will earn in excess of $3 million a year, without the benefits,according to two persons with direct knowledge of his contract. https://t.co/u6mIBirR5b— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 22, 2025
Nightengale now believes the Giants will offer a deal “in excess of $3 million.” That will make it worth Vitello’s while to leave Knoxville.
The $3M+ should be even with the coach’s Tennessee salary. Others believe the number will actually be higher.
Tony Vitello received a considerable raise in taking the San Francisco Giants job. He was making $3 million annually at Tennessee.
— Chris Low (@clowfb) October 22, 2025
It’s being reported that the Giants will make Tony Vitello the highest-paid first-year coach in MLB history. It might not show in his bank account given tax differences between California and Tennessee.
It will be interesting to see how Vitello adapts to his new role in the Bay. One question still remains. Will his coaching style and success translate from college to the MLB?
We’ll soon see if the decision pays off in San Francisco.