A Youthful Leader for the Front Office
The Athletics have appointed 31-year-old Taylor Smith as their new president of baseball operations. Owner John Fisher pointed out that technology companies and modern businesses are often led by young people. Fisher stated that he likes having someone young and energized who wants to try new things. Smith spent seven years with the Tampa Bay Rays and the last two seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He is now the youngest person to hold this role for a major league team, beating 36-year-old Paul Toboni in Washington.
Fisher mentioned he might still hire a general manager to replace David Forst, who left two months ago. The Athletics finished this year with a 64-98 record while playing home games at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California. Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein served as interim general manager to finish the season.
Focus on Pitching and Young Talent
Smith takes over a team with a pitching staff that struggled last season, producing a 5.51 ERA which ranked second-worst in the league. Smith pointed out that the team has promising arms including Jack Perkins, Gage Jump, Jacob Lopez, and J.T. Ginn. He believes the pitching was slightly unlucky with ball-in-play outcomes and expects progress.
For the everyday lineup, Smith can build around young players like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler, along with veteran Brent Rooker. Smith said the exciting young core and the upcoming move to a new city made the job a compelling opportunity.
Manager Ready for Change
Manager Mark Kotsay has already planned to discuss future plans with Smith. Kotsay has immediate priorities that include filling out his coaching staff after dismissing hitting coach Chris Cron and quality control coach Marcus Jensen. Kotsay also wants to improve player development and upgrade pitching depth.
Kotsay acknowledged that change can be difficult in the moment, but he recognizes it can lead to success. He stated he is excited about Smith joining the organization and is ready to start building a working relationship with him.
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