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Billy Beane has been the general manager of the A’s since 1997, when he took over the position following the season. All this time later, he’s finally in line to get a promotion, as the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser mentioned at the end of her latest column that Beane could be bumped up to a “president-level” position within the organization. That would mean longtime assistant general manager David Forst would move up to replace Beane as the GM, leaving Dan Kantrovitz alone as the assistant GM.
The A’s, as structured, do not have a president of baseball operations: Beane is the vice president of baseball ops, but there is no one above him in that department. Slusser states that Beane would still maintain “overall control of major baseball decisions,” which isn’t surprising given that 1) he’d be president of the department and 2) he’s Billy Beane. Maybe some of the day-to-day changes for him, though, but as with everything else, it’s hard to predict just what Beane will do.
This would mean the A’s have joined the Cubs, Dodgers, White Sox, Giants and more as teams instituting a president of baseball operations who is a former GM, one who can remain hands on with the department. The Red Sox could end up joining this mix soon, or the Blue Jays, or whoever ends up with Dave Dombrowski now that the Tigers let him go. It’ll be sad if Beane takes a step back or becomes more reclusive with the promotion, but the guy has been around and successful for so long that it’s hard to believe he hasn’t already been given a fancy new title. Maybe he should have abused his powers as a minority owner in the team a long time ago to get that ball rolling.
- Chris Davis' 2014 made him look like a fluke, but a strong 2015 -- his last before free agency -- is showing that it was 2014 that was the irregular year. He'll cost a whole lot to retain, but the Orioles shouldn't be frightened by that.
- Speaking of first base, the Red Sox have some tough decisions to make at the position soon, as they need to bet on a mid-tier prospect to finally make it, or go all-in on someone like Davis.
- The Giants and Cubs began a series with wild card implications on Thursday, and the Cubs took game one and the Wild Card spot the two are battling over.
- The Red Sox placed Rusney Castillo and Hanley Ramirez on waivers, which sounds a lot more exciting and game-changing than it is. The truth is that this is standard procedure for the Red Sox, and most teams, and doesn't mean some huge deal is happening.
- We say "most teams," because the Padres placed James Shields on waivers, but word is that they would trade him to an interested party.
- MLB Daily Dish is tracking every known player placed on revocable waivers this month, if you'd like to play along.
- Hector Olivera, the key for the Braves in their recent three-team trade, is still 10-12 days away from a rehab assignment.
- Starlin Castro needs at-bats to get out of his season-long funk, not a group diagnosis.
- Yup, a home run hit with a backwards softball swing. Sports are pretty cool.
- Dave Dombrowski's free agency might have some White Sox-related implications, especially with the Blue Jays not all that far removed from trying to court current president Kenny Williams.
- The Mets have been so good since Michael Cuddyer was finally placed on the disabled list where his bat couldn't hurt the lineup anymore. He's coming back soon, though, so what then?
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SB Nation video archives: The best first pitch and the absolute worst ones (2013)
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