Giants agree to extend Brian Sabean, Bruce Bochy

The San Francisco Giants have been baseball's most successful franchise over the past half-decade, so it comes as no surprise that the defending champions wants to lock down its braintrust. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Giants are "getting close" to signing manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean to long-term extensions. MLB.com's Chad Thornburg adds the expected extensions will keep the pair in San Francisco through at least 2018. Both are currently locked up through the 2016 season.

Bochy and Sabean have been at the helm for the franchise's most successful stretch since moving to San Francisco. Since Bochy joined the club prior to the 2007 season (after previously managing for the Padres), the team has gone 667-629, and has made the playoffs three times (2010, 2012, 2014), winning the World Series in all of them. Since 2009, they have also won at least 86 games in all but one year (2013).

Sabean has been with the club even longer than Bochy, joining the organization in 1993 and becoming general manager in 1996. The 2003 NL Executive of the Year has presided over seven playoff appearances and four pennants. He was largely responsible for the Giants turnaround in the late-1990's, as they went on to win 90 games six times from 1997 to 2004 on the backs of Barry Bonds and Sabean acquisitions such as Ellis Burks, Jason Schmidt, and Jeff Kent. Following a downturn for the franchise in the middle of last decade, Sabean has become the architect of what may be baseball's modern equivalent of a dynasty.

As Nightengale hints to, both Bochy and Sabean figure to be in line for massive paydays. He notes recent hires Andrew Friedman ( $10 million annually) and Joe Maddon ($5 million) as setting the benchmark for manager and general manager salaries. And with all the success Bochy and Sabean have had, it wouldn't be surprising to see the pair approach the figures awarded to Friedman and Maddon.