As the San Diego Padres weigh their next move in free agency, their rival San Francisco Giants just added another veteran to their coaching staff, in the legendary head coach Ron Washington.

The 73-year-old is not ready to leave the MLB just yet and is staying in California. Washington was floated as a potential candidate for the Padres’ opening, although there was never any evidence to suggest that San Diego was actually interested in Washington.

Giants add Ron Washington to staff around Tony Vitello

It is an interesting move, considering Washington’s failed tenure in Los Angeles. However, he is still considered to be one of the best infield coaches of all time, and that is the role he will be serving in San Francisco. He was once a third-base coach for the Braves and Athletics, and of course, led the Texas Rangers to back-to-back American League pennants as their manager.

The move also makes sense considering the Giants’ choice to hire Tennessee manager Tony Vitello, one of the youngest and most inexperienced managers in the MLB. Vitello brings years of winning at the collegiate level, but has never coached in the MLB. Washington has been in the MLB as a coach since the 1990s, and as a player since 1977.

The Padres still have not named a third-base coach, after Tim Leiper was hired by the New York Mets. It’s possible one of their assistants could take over third base, such as bench coach Randy Knorr or coaching assistant Scott Stroud.

However, on Dec. 8, rumors suggested Bob Henley could also be in the mix to take the Padres’ third-base coach job.

According to Dennis Lin, the Padres’ reporter for The Athletic, the Padres might be closing in on three new additions to their coaching staff.

“The Padres are close to finalizing their coaching staff under Craig Stammen. Per sources, they’re expected to add Bob Henley (third-base coach), Kevin Plawecki (catching), and Ryan Goins (infield). Nick Punto, who helped coach the infield last season, is returning,” Lin posted to his X account earlier today.

So far, there have been no official announcements.

Henley was a former big-league catcher for the Expos, who has spent parts of nine seasons as a coach for the Washington Nationals. Goins, rumored to be hired as the Padres’ infield coach, spent eight seasons in the MLB, primarily as a second baseman, playing for the Blue Jays, Royals, and White Sox.