Inside Buster Posey’s Difficult First Years Running the Giants

Buster Posey is a San Francisco Giants legend — but could running the team put that legacy at risk? Britt Ghiroli joins DVR and Eno Sarris to discuss her exclusive reporting on Posey’s transition from franchise icon to president of baseball operations, the decisions that have defined his tenure so far, and what comes next for the struggling Giants. They also break down the major roster decisions of the Posey era, including the Rafael Devers trade, Willy Adames contract and Matt Chapman, while looking at whether San Francisco can remain competitive as its next wave of young talent develops. With much of the Giants’ best prospect talent still years away from the majors, how should Posey approach the offseason and build a bridge to the organization’s future? DVR, Eno and Britt also examine growing concerns surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia's offense remains near the bottom of MLB in wRC+, the bullpen has struggled to protect leads, and the Phillies find themselves in a tightening National League playoff race with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. Plus, Hunter Greene needs a second Tommy John surgery, potentially sidelining the Cincinnati Reds ace for most or all of 2027. What does Greene's latest injury mean for Cincinnati's future, and is pressure mounting on the Reds' front office after six seasons under Nick Krall? 🎧 Rates & Barrels with Derek Van Riper, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli. First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Britt's article on Buster Posey https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7499186/2026/08/13/san-francisco-giants-buster-posey-legacy/ Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris Contributor: Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis Editor: McEnroe Francis Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) 00:00 Today on Rates & Barrels 04:18 Field of Dreams Game Returns 07:38 Is It Time to Worry About the Phillies? 12:46 Phillies on the Outside of NL Playoff Picture 15:04 Inside Buster Posey’s Giants Gamble 18:19 Evaluating the Rafael Devers Trade 21:59 What Happened to the Giants’ Pitching? 26:06 Are the Giants Falling Behind Other Front Offices? 29:15 What Could Posey Have Done Differently? 32:52 The Tony Vitello Gamble 38:42 Does Posey Have the Right People Around Him? 42:54 How Can Posey Fix the Giants? 47:44 What Happened to Willy Adames? 55:29 How Long Will the Giants’ Rebuild Take? 57:16 Hunter Greene Needs Another Tommy John Surgery 1:01:13 How Long Should MLB Front Offices Get? 1:06:56 Is It Time for Changes in Cincinnati? 1:10:36 What’s Next for the A’s Front Office? 1:14:45 Thanks for Watching #phillies #sanfranciscogiants #mlbwildcard #cincinnatireds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.