Mike Krukow’s emotional farewell at the end of the 2026 season left the Giants with a problem that feels bigger than most offseason debates: who on earth can step into that broadcast chair next?
Replacing a voice that has become so tied to Giants baseball is no small thing. There may be bigger roster questions on paper, but this one carries a different kind of weight. Someone - and probably more than one someone - is going to have to take on that responsibility starting next season.
J.T. Snow already nudged his way into the conversation during the week when he said he had interest in the job and reached out to the Giants about it. Snow has done Giants games before, and his status as a fan favorite from his playing days only strengthens the case for him as part of a broader mix of voices going forward.
The more obvious names in this race are Hunter Pence, Javier Lopez, and Shawn Estes. But there are other possibilities worth watching, too.
Rich Aurilia fits the bill as a former Giant with broadcasting experience already in the building. He played alongside Snow in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and for a long time he was the man tied to No. 35 before Brandon Crawford arrived.
Aurilia already works Giants pregame and postgame shows for NBC Sports Bay Area, which means he’s not starting from scratch. His background as a middle infielder could also make for a natural pairing with Duane Kuiper.
George Kontos is another familiar face who already handles pregame and postgame analysis for NBC Sports Bay Area. As a former reliever, he tends to offer sharp breakdowns and usually lands on the right points when he’s on television. He wasn’t one of the headline names from the dynasty years, but he was around for plenty of it, and that alone brings some welcome familiarity.
Sergio Romo belongs in the same conversation for the same reason: he’s already part of the NBC Sports Bay Area analysis setup. That matters, especially when geography becomes part of the equation and the question is whether a candidate lives in San Francisco or can get there often enough. Romo may not always look polished behind the mic, but he has the personality and humor to grow into the role, and his resume from the 2010s speaks for itself.
Jeremy Affeldt, another member of the “Core Four,” has already been in the booth before. He filled in on occasion in 2017, so this wouldn’t be new territory for him.
He also co-hosts the Splash Hit Territory podcast, which keeps him plugged into the team. The catch is that he lives in Texas, though there could still be ways to work him into select games, especially when the Giants are on the road against the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros.
Then there’s Dusty Baker, the most outside-the-box name in the group, but not one that can be dismissed. He’s a beloved former Giants manager and a strong communicator. He currently works in San Francisco’s front office, and that hasn’t kept others from getting into the booth, so he remains a candidate worth considering.
No one is going to truly replace Krukow. That’s the reality.
But the Giants should cast a wide net, give different voices a chance, and see who handles the booth best. These names are the ones to keep in mind.
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