There’s been plenty of speculation about Tony Vitello’s future with the San Francisco Giants amid what’s been a tough first season as a manager in the big leagues.

The Giants, however, essentially confirmed this week that they’re in it for the long haul with Vitello.

San Francisco allowed President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey, the man who hired Vitello, to essentially enter a mini-rebuild by trading off several veteran players before the deadline earlier this week.

That move signals that ownership is on board with giving Posey and Vitello a couple of seasons to make it work with a younger roster.

“When Buster Posey traded six major-league players for a heap of prospects before Monday’s deadline, he did more than reshuffle the roster and replenish the farm system,” wrote the San Francisco Standard’s John Shea. “He provided Tony Vitello with security.”

“Posey’s new direction signifies more than ever that he’s in it for the long haul — especially because most of the newcomers won’t be seen at Oracle Park in the near future — and that he needs Vitello to oversee the transition,” added Shea. “A few weeks back, Posey said he’s ‘committed to seeing it through,’ a clear indication he remains dedicated to turning the Giants around even if it takes longer than he had anticipated. … In effect, the Posey-Vitello partnership isn’t ending anytime soon, which might not satisfy the lunatic fringe, but it makes sense. Posey is determined to make it work, and Vitello is the guy to tutor a roster that’s full of youth.”

Vitello is Posey’s guy — there’s no way he’s going to fire the former Tennessee Vols coach after just one season (especially since the main reason for the Giants’ struggles was a flawed roster). They’re in this together.

The jury is still out on how Vitello will ultimately fare in the big leagues. But a younger roster could be the ticket to bringing out the best in the former Tennessee coach.

Vitello admitted earlier this year that he’s had to change a bit in the big leagues — which isn’t ideal, because what made Tony V special at Tennessee is exactly who the Giants need him to be.

“If Tony ever asked me, which hopefully he doesn’t, but if he ever asks me [for advice],” said Giants play-by-play announcer Dave Fleming in July. “I just want to see Tony be himself — be his authentic self. I think he’s been so deferential to all of the veterans around him — veteran coaches and veteran players — and I understand why. [He’s] new to this. … but the Giants hired him to be him.”

There’s been a lot of talk that Vitello could return to college. Maybe he eventually does — no one knows how his time with the Giants will play out. But it doesn’t sound like he’ll be making a move back to the college game in the next year or two — he’s going to have some runway to see this through in San Francisco.