India, Oct. 19 -- The San Francisco Giants are closing in on their next manager, and all signs point to a surprising choice. Multiple reports suggest the team is preparing to hire Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, a bold move that could make him one of the highest-paid managers in Major League Baseball, despite having never managed in the big leagues.

The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly reported that both Vitello and Buster Posey were spotted at Coors Field earlier this month during a Giants-Rockies series, fueling speculation that talks were underway.

Vitello, who turned the University of Tennessee from an SEC afterthought into one of college baseball's premier programs, has long been admired for his intensity and player-first approach. In...