Giants looking at Gabe Kapler's former Red Sox teammate in managerial search

The San Francisco Giants fired Gabe Kapler from his managerial post in late September. Less than one month later, the team is looking at one of his former Boston Red Sox teammates to possibly fill the vacancy.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Giants have asked the Red Sox permission to speak with player information coach Jason Varitek about the managerial gig in San Francisco. Sherman notes that it's "not publicly known" if the former longtime Boston catcher "has interest in the position" or if the team has already conducted an interview with him.

The Giants let go of Kapler with three games left in the 2023 regular season as the team faded out of the playoff picture. The former Red Sox outfielder was completing his fourth year as manager in the Bay Area, a run that included an NL West divisional crown in 2021, but subsequent elimination in the NLDS by the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kapler (who managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and 2019) won the 2021 NL Manager of the Year Award and finished his tenure as the Giants leader with a 295-248 record.

Per Sherman's report, Giants interim manager Kai Correa has interviewed for the full-time gig, as have a pair of other San Francisco coaches: Alyssa Nakken and Mark Hallberg.

Nakken is believed to be the first woman to ever formally interview for a manager's job in MLB.

Varitek has never been a manager but has been thought of as a prime candidate to serve in that role ever since his 15-year playing career ended following the 2011 season.

The now-51-year-old was selected in the first round of the 1994 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Seattle Mariners but was soon traded to Boston. Varitek made his big-league debut in 1997 and spent his entire career with the Red Sox, making three All-Star teams, winning two World Series titles and earning both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award.

"Tek" was instrumental in helping Boston break the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004 and winning another championship in 2007. Varitek was named the team's captain after they won the 2004 World Series and held the honor until he retired. He's the most recent member of the Red Sox to serve as a captain.

Kapler (who ironically recently interviewed for Boston's general manager vacancy), played with Varitek and called Fenway Park home for three-plus seasons from 2003-06.