Lou Piniella tearfully left baseball in August of last year, noting that it would be the last time he would put on a uniform. It was the end of an era, to be sure, but Lou never said it would be the last time he worked for a baseball organization.
The team hasn’t made an announcement yet, but The Chronicle learned Piniella, 67, is joining the Giants’ front office to consult in a variety of ways, whether it’s evaluating or advising on player movement or scouting or . . . well, whatever a baseball lifer of 48 years can provide.
GM Brian Sabean goes back with Piniella to their Yankee years in the ’80s, and they’ve remained tight. Sabean interviewed Piniella to succeed manager Felipe Alou after the 2006 season, but Piniella removed himself from consideration partly for geographic reasons and became manager of the Cubs.
Ultimately, Sabean hired a guy named Bruce Bochy, who oversaw Barry Bonds’ final year and ushered in a new era of championship ball.
Apparently, Piniella will be Florida-based like other Sabean assistants in recent years, including Alou and Ron Perranoski. SFGate.
Most assumed this is the route Piniella would take after his retirement from managing, though the smart money was on a position with the Yankees or his hometown Rays.