Athletics owner John Fisher hired Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations, calling him the youngest person in the role at a major league team. Smith, 31, spent seven years with the Tampa Bay Rays and the past two seasons with the Boston Red Sox. Fisher said "the world is run by 31-year-olds today" and believes Smith's fresh perspective will help the A's return to contention and build momentum for their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Smith's rise through the Rays and Red Sox organizations, where he oversaw analytics and player personnel, caught Fisher's attention. The A's went 64-98 this year in their second season at a Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento, California. Fisher called it "a definite possibility" he still hires a general manager, with Dan Feinstein finishing the season as interim GM after David Forst's departure.
The A's struggled with a 5.51 ERA, second-worst in baseball, though Smith noted promising arms including Jack Perkins, Gage Jump, Jacob Lopez, and J.T. Ginn. He can build the lineup around young players Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler, along with veteran Brent Rooker.
Manager Mark Kotsay, who has a home in Las Vegas, said he and Smith would discuss plans over dinner. Kotsay's priorities include filling out the coaching staff, improving player development, and upgrading pitching depth.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing