{{Short description|Canadian baseball executive (born 1976)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Farhan Zaidi |image = |image_size = |team = Los Angeles Dodgers |position = Baseball Executive | teams = *[[Oakland Athletics]] (2011–2014) <br />(Assistant General Manager) * [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] (2014–2018) <br />(General Manager) *[[San Francisco Giants]] (2018–2024) <br />(President of Baseball Operations) * [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] (2025–present) <br />(Special Advisor) | highlights = * [[MLB Executive of the Year Award]] ({{mlby|2021}}) * [[Sporting News Executive of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Executive of the Year]] ({{mlby|2021}}) * [[World Series]] champion ([[2025 World Series|2025]]) |caption = |birth_name = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|11|11}} |birth_place = [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Ontario]], Canada |death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |death_place = |residence = |nationality = |other_names = |known_for = |education = |years_active = |home_town = |salary = }} '''Farhan Zaidi''' (born November 11, 1976) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[professional baseball]] executive. He has also served as [[president of baseball operations]] for the [[San Francisco Giants]], [[general manager]] for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and as [[assistant general manager]] of the [[Oakland Athletics]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He currently works for the Dodgers as a special advisor and also assists Dodgers owner [[Mark Walter]] with his other sports interests.
Zaidi is one of the only [[Muslims|Muslim]] executives in Major League Baseball.<ref name="SFGate"/> He was the first Muslim, [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani-Canadian]], and, consequently, [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian-Canadian]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dioknoed.blogspot.com/2014/11/farhan-zaidi-asian-american-named.html|title = Views from the Edge: Farhan Zaidi: Asian American named Dodgers' GM|date = 7 November 2014}}</ref> general manager in Major League Baseball.<ref name="coveted"/> He was also the first Muslim to run a major North American sports team.
==Early life== Zaidi was born on November 11, 1976, in [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], [[Ontario]], Canada, to a family of Pakistani ancestry.<ref name="sunelliott"/><ref name="thestar"/> His parents, Sadiq and Anjum, raised four children: Zeeshan, Farhan, Noor, and Jaffer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCollough |first1=Andy |title=How Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi built a dynasty — in fantasy football |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-zaidi-fantasy-football-20180223-story.html |accessdate=July 20, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="coveted">{{cite news |last1=McCollough |first1=Andy |title=How Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi became one of the most coveted minds in baseball |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-farhan-zaidi-20170330-htmlstory.html |accessdate=July 20, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> Zaidi grew up in the [[Philippines]] after his family moved to [[Manila]] when he was four years old, where he attended the [[International School Manila|International School of Manila]].<ref name="sunelliott">{{cite news|last1=Elliott|first1=Bob|title=Dodgers GM celebrates birthday in style|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2014/11/11/dodgers-gm-celebrates-birthday-in-style|accessdate=February 14, 2017|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name="thestar">{{cite news|last1=Kennedy|first1=Brendan|title=Canadian-born Farhan Zaidi to be named Los Angeles Dodgers GM|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2014/11/05/canadianborn_farhan_zaidi_to_be_named_los_angeles_dodgers_gm.html|work=The Star|date=November 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Keown |first1=Tim |title=From a Ph.D. to RBIs: How Farhan Zaidi left Berkeley and became a baseball pioneer |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26544614/how-farhan-zaidi-left-berkeley-became-baseball-pioneer |website=ESPN |publisher=ESPN |access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref>
He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in economics from the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref name=espn>{{cite news|title=AP source: Dodgers hiring A's Farhan Zaidi as GM|access-date=November 5, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=November 4, 2014|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11824321}}</ref> He briefly worked for the [[Boston Consulting Group]] and the ''[[Sporting News]]'' website between MIT and Berkeley.<ref name=espn/><ref name=Tech/>
==Career== ===Oakland Athletics=== While at Berkeley, Zaidi read the book ''[[Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game|Moneyball]]'' and said that it changed his life.<ref name="TorStar">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2014/05/24/oakland_as_executive_changing_the_face_of_baseball.html|title=Oakland A's executive changing the face of baseball|first=Brendan|last=Kennedy|work=Toronto Star|date=May 24, 2014|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref> He saw a job posting for a baseball operations position with the [[Oakland Athletics]] and sent out his résumé, beating out 1,000 other applicants for the job.<ref name=Tech>{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/article/423701/farhan-zaidi-98/|title=Farhan Zaidi '98|work=Technology Review|first=Jill|last=Hecht Maxwell|date=April 19, 2011|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref> He was a data analysis [[sabermetrics]] assistant when he started.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2005/05/an-interview-with-farhan-zaidi/|title=An Interview with Farhan Zaidi of the Oakland A's|work=sabernomics.com|date=May 25, 2005|accessdate=November 5, 2014|archive-date=July 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173833/http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2005/05/an-interview-with-farhan-zaidi/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His boss with the Athletics, [[Billy Beane]], called him "absolutely brilliant" and credited him with the acquisition of [[Yoenis Céspedes]].<ref name="SFGate">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/A-s-exec-GM-Farhan-Zaidi-takes-old-and-5205023.php|title=A's exec GM Farhan Zaidi takes old- and new-school approach|work=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Susan|last=Slusser|author-link=Susan Slusser|date=February 4, 2014|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref>
For the 2013 season, Zaidi was promoted by the Athletics to the post of director of baseball operations and added assistant general manager to his title in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://athleticsfarm.com/2013/03/07/exclusive-as-director-of-baseball-operations-farhan-zaidi-talks-top-prospects-with-as-farm-part-1/|title=Exclusive: A's Director of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi Talks Top Prospects with A's Farm – Part 1 |work=A's Farm|date=March 7, 2013|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://athletics.scout.com/story/1376952-oakland-a-s-spring-q-a-farhan-zaidi-part-1|title=Oakland A's Spring Q&A: Farhan Zaidi, Part 1|first=Melissa|last=Lockard|work=scout.com|date=February 19, 2014|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Dodgers=== On November 6, 2014, Zaidi was named by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] as their new general manager under president of baseball operations [[Andrew Friedman]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[ESPN.com]]|title=Dodgers hire Farhan Zaidi as GM|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/11824183/los-angeles-dodgers-lure-farhan-zaidi-oakland-athletics-gm-role|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref>
Under his watch as the Dodgers GM, the team made its first [[World Series]] appearance in 29 years in [[2017 World Series|2017]], falling to the [[Houston Astros]] in seven games. The following year, they lost in five games to the [[Boston Red Sox]] in the [[2018 World Series]].
===San Francisco Giants=== On November 6, 2018, Zaidi accepted an offer to join the [[San Francisco Giants]] to become president of baseball operations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haft |first1=Chris |title=Zaidi to head Giants' baseball ops |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/farhan-zaidi-takes-giants-job-c300339326 |accessdate=April 24, 2019 |work=MLB.com |date=November 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crowley |first1=Kerry |title=Farhan Zaidi charts bold new course for Giants: 'Everything has got to be on the table' |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/07/farhan-zaidi-san-francisco-giants-madison-bumgarner-mlb-trade-rumors-larry-baer/ |accessdate=April 24, 2019 |work=Mercury News |date=November 7, 2018}}</ref> In 2021, the Giants won a franchise-record 107 games, and Zaidi was voted the [[Sporting News Executive of the Year Award|''Sporting News'' Executive of the Year]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/sporting-news-2021-mlb-awards-ohtani-giants/1cghbx4jkaihv103azmjwxtucu|title=Sporting News 2021 MLB awards: Ohtani voted top player; Posey leads Giants in strong showing|date=29 October 2021 }}</ref> and [[MLB Executive of the Year Award|MLB Executive of the Year]], becoming the first person of South Asian descent to win either award.
When Zaidi's general manager [[Scott Harris (baseball)|Scott Harris]] left the Giants in 2022 to become the president of baseball operations for the [[Detroit Tigers]], Zaidi hired [[Pete Putila]] to be the Giants new general manager.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-putila-hired-as-giants-general-manager | title=New GM Putila 'really excited' to join Giants | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>
In October 2023, Zaidi and the Giants agreed to a new three-year contract through 2026.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/giants-announce-contract-extension-for-farhan-zaidi |title=Zaidi gets 3-year extension as Giants unify front office |first=Maria |last=Guardado |date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=October 27, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com}}</ref> It was later revealed that the contract between Zaidi and the Giants was a two-year contract, through 2025, with the equivalent of a club option for 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Bombshell Report Reveals Shocking San Francisco Giants Contract Details |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/san-francisco-giants-news/bombshell-report-reveals-shocking-san-francisco-giants-contract-details |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=San Francisco Giants On SI |language=en-US}}</ref>
On September 30, 2024, the Giants announced they would be parting ways with Zaidi, hiring [[Buster Posey]] to replace him as the President of Baseball Operations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Guardado|first1=Maria|title=Giants dismiss Zaidi, name Buster Posey pres. of baseball ops|url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/farhan-zaidi-fired-by-giants-buster-posey-named-president-of-baseball-ops|work=MLB.com|date=September 30, 2024|accessdate=September 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5806379/2024/09/30/sf-giants-farhan-zaidi-fired-buster-posey/ |title=San Francisco Giants fire Farhan Zaidi, Buster Posey new president of baseball operations | first=Andrew | last=Baggarly |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |publisher=nytimes.com}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)=== On February 10, 2025, Zaidi subsequently returned to the Dodgers organization as a special advisor to [[Mark Walter]], helping him with the Dodgers as well as his other sports interests, which include the Los Angeles Lakers, Sparks and Chelsea FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6127367/2025/02/10/dodgers-farhan-zaidi-advisor/|title=Farhan Zaidi returning to Dodgers as a special advisor|first=Fabian|last=Ardaya|work=The Athletic|date=February 10, 2025|accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Zaidi is married to Lucy Fang, a fellow MIT graduate.<ref name=Tech/>
Though he primarily grew up in the Philippines, Zaidi still considers himself Canadian. His family returned to Canada every other summer to visit family and friends, and as a result, Zaidi became a fan of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.mlb.com/giants/team/front-office/farhan-zaidi SF Giants bio] *{{cite news|last1=Laurila|first1=David|title=Sloan Analytics: Farhan Zaidi on A's Analytics|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sloan-analytics-farhan-zaidi-on-as-analytics/|accessdate=January 13, 2015|publisher=Fangraphs|date=March 8, 2013}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box|title=[[List of Los Angeles Dodgers owners and executives|Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager]] | before=[[Ned Colletti]] | years=2014–2018 | after=[[Brandon Gomes]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Sporting News Executive of the Year Award}} {{MLB Executive of the Year Award}} {{Los Angeles Dodgers general managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaidi, Farhan}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American people of Pakistani descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Pakistani descent]] [[Category:Boston Consulting Group people]] [[Category:Canadian expatriates in the Philippines]] [[Category:Canadian Muslims]] [[Category:Canadian people of Pakistani descent]] [[Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators]] [[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers executives]] [[Category:Major League Baseball general managers]] [[Category:MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences alumni]] [[Category:Oakland Athletics executives]] [[Category:San Francisco Giants executives]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Greater Sudbury]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Manila]] [[Category:UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science alumni]] [[Category:Major League Baseball Executive of the Year Award winners]] [[Category:Major League Baseball presidents of baseball operations]]