Three weeks ago, San Diego president of baseball operations A.J. Preller told the media that Padres manager Bob Melvin would remain as the team’s manager in 2024. Preller, however, gave the San Francisco Giants permission on Monday to interview Melvin for the team’s vacant managerial position.

Melvin, a three-time recipient of the Managers of the Year award, has ties to Northern California. Born in Palo Alto, Calif., he grew up in Menlo Park, and managed the Oakland A’s prior to the team’s management allowing him to accept an offer to manager San Diego.

The A’s were beginning a major overhaul at the time.

Melvin led the Padres to a wild-car berth and post-season upsets of the 101-win Mets, and 111-win Dodgers a year ago. This year’s team, however, did not live up to expectations, finishing ahead of only the Colorado Rockies in the NL West standings. The Padres were 9-23 in one-run games.

While the Padres did ownership did claim that Melvin would be back in 2024 there was disoncent between Melvin and Preller.

Melvin spent three years as a catcher with the Giants in the late 1980s, and managed Oakland for 11 seasons (2011-2021), which would underscore why he would have a definite interest in returning to the Bay Area.

Melvin was assured he would be a top candidate for the job before he agreed to be interviewed. There has already been speculation that Melvin would bring third base coach Matt Williams, a former Giants player, with him. Former Giants Pat Burrell and Ryan Vogelsong also have surfaced as being under consideration to fill the roles of hitting and pitching coach.