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Athletics Announce Contract Extensions For Billy Beane, David Forst, Bob Melvin

By TC Zencka | October 29, 2018 at 11:41am CDT

The Oakland A’s announced new long-term deals today for Executive VP of Baseball Ops Billy Beane, General Manager David Forst, and Manager Bob Melvin, per a team report.

Melvin’s deal will take him through 2021 at about $3.5MM per season, which puts him in the upper echelon of managers in terms of yearly salary, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco chronicle, who provides some of the contract details. Forst is now signed through 2023, giving him another four years as the Oakland GM. The length of Beane’s extension is as of yet unknown, though the expectation is that he will be in Oakland for the foreseeable future.

Extensions were expected for the Oakland trio after a surprising 97-65 record took the team to the Wild Card game versus the Yankees despite fielding a team with the lowest opening day payroll in the league. Faced with those limited resources and a host of injuries, Beane, Forst and Melvin frankensteined together a pitching staff from veteran castoffs and reclamation projects like Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. Together with an offense powered by a defensive third basemen and the most consistent hitter in baseball history, Oakland stormed past the Mariners to place themselves in the elite class of American League contenders. With their braintrust locked in, Oakland has achieved its primary goal of the offseason and can now turn the trio’s attention toward building on their 2018 success and staying atop a crowded AL West.

Beane was the GM of the A’s for 18 years before the promotion to his current title in 2015. He has been named Executive of the Year twice by Baseball America, twice by The Sporting News, as well as MLB.com’s Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) award as the 2012 MLB Executive of the Year. He is most famous, of course, for launching the moneyball era of baseball sabermetrics, but he continues to hunt for and find market inefficiencies that help his Oakland A’s overcome the payroll disparity they face year in and year out. He holds an ownership stake in the A’s, so it seems he is secure in his role running the baseball ops department ad infinitum. Beane signs this new deal as he wraps up the five-year deal he signed back in 2012.

Melvin is a two-time manager of the year recipient, most recently in 2012 with Oakland. He is third in franchise history with 634 wins, and it’s certainly conceivable that he’ll pass Tony La Russa (798) for second on that list before this new deal is done. Before the extension, Melvin had inked a series of short-term arrangements, including when he and the club agreed to tack on the 2019 season as the 2017 campaign drew to a close. Amazingly, this season’s 22-win improvement is the third time Melvin has led a team to a 20-game improvement. He has been with the A’s since 2011, making the playoffs four times in that span (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018).

It’s not entirely clear how Forst’s contract situation has been handled in the past, but he has been with the Oakland organization for twenty years. He served for twelve years as the assistant general manager before his promotion to GM four years ago. He may not have as much name recognition as Billy Beane, but Forst has long been a part of the braintrust in Oakland and seems to be, like Beane, an Oakland lifer.

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Newsstand Oakland Athletics Transactions Billy Beane Bob Melvin David Forst

NL Notes: Kershaw, Roberts, Cardinals
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AL East Notes: Machado, Gardner, Nunez, Red Sox
View Comments (63)
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63 Comments

  1. unpaidobserver

    7 years ago

    Hope this is just the beginning!

    2
    Reply
  2. AsNchill

    7 years ago

    If this team performs as well as it did last year with some of the more exciting pieces coming up through our farm system we might see another quick extension for BoMel through 2023 as well.

    Reply
    • justin-turner overdrive

      7 years ago

      Not if they keep failing in the playoffs under him, he’s getting all the credit when Christenson is the reason why they were so good this year.

      Reply
  3. Houston We Have A Solution

    7 years ago

    Now just sure up the bullpen and pray for some healthy starters. Maybe sign a veteran OF like Jon Jay and a veteran utility guy like Freddy Galvis to play 3B SS 2B

    1
    Reply
    • AsNchill

      7 years ago

      Bullpen is actually still going to be a point of strength next season. Treinen, Trivino, Pagan, Buchter, Petit, Wendelken and maybe AJ Puk joins them if he’s healthy after TJS.

      I don’t think we touch another LHH OF either. We’ve got Powell, Fowler and Martini for 5 more years, and I really don’t see us trading Fowler. As for Galvis, we already have an athletic super utility player that hits better than Galvis.

      3
      Reply
    • jdgoat

      7 years ago

      They should be all over guys like Eovaldi, Happ, maybe Sabathia, and hope that Manaea, Cotton and Graveman can come back to form next year. Some combination of them on top of Fiers and one of their cheap fill ins like Anderson or Jackson should be enough when paired with that bullpen depth and elite defense.

      2
      Reply
      • arc89

        7 years ago

        No on Sabathia. He is way over the hill and the A’s need innings.

        Reply
        • AsNchill

          7 years ago

          And he’s a clown. Don’t need someone that complains about baseball being played the right way in our clubhouse.

          1
          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          Don’t worry he wouldn’t sign there anyway. Oh it’s not your clubhouse either.

          2
          Reply
        • arc89

          7 years ago

          Yes he would sign in a heart beat if they offered him a contract.

          1
          Reply
        • Asfan27

          7 years ago

          He grew up an A’s fan and his family all root for the A’s so why wouldn’t he sign there ?

          3
          Reply
        • AsNchill

          7 years ago

          Why would we WANT him to sign there? He spent so much of last season complaining about bunts and having to field his position. That’s not what the A’s want on their team following a year where our first baseman, second baseman, third baseman and shortstop are all gold glove finalists.

          Reply
        • justin-turner overdrive

          7 years ago

          I’d argue that having an all-gold glove level INF is all the more reason to sign a pitcher who isn’t good on defense. CC was lowkey complaining about how crappy Andujar is on defense (facts).

          1
          Reply
      • Zagarna

        7 years ago

        With the news that Shields is out in Chicago, he would seem like a decent pickup– not going to cost a lot, but can potentially provide a lot of innings at reasonable levels of performance.

        I think Cahill comes back, too; the team clearly values him given that they pursued a reunion years after trading him.

        Reply
        • justin-turner overdrive

          7 years ago

          Shields is a big no. Beane just said the payroll is going up and he’s targeting SPs. Hoping that means Eovaldi but who knows what Beane’s up to.

          Reply
  4. holecamels35

    7 years ago

    At this point why not just give Beane a lifetime contract?

    2
    Reply
    • AsNchill

      7 years ago

      That already happened when he turned down the opportunity to be the General Manager of the Red Sox.

      2
      Reply
      • metseventually 2

        7 years ago

        ^^^

        Reply
    • walls17

      7 years ago

      Ownership stake is basically the same thing

      2
      Reply
  5. sampsonite168

    7 years ago

    Billy Beane with that sterling 1-9 playoff series record in 20 seasons.

    12
    Reply
    • AsNchill

      7 years ago

      Most GM’s wish they could get their teams to the playoffs 10 times during their tenure.

      7
      Reply
      • sampsonite168

        7 years ago

        Most GMs wish they could get 20 years to get a ring.

        9
        Reply
        • AsNchill

          7 years ago

          Man you butchered that attempt.

          6
          Reply
        • sampsonite168

          7 years ago

          Poor baby doesn’t have any facts to back up their opinion?

          1 ALCS appearance (a sweep) in 20 seasons is not good results. Period.

          7
          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          Most overrated executive in all of sports.

          5
          Reply
        • Pingleja

          7 years ago

          It’s more about what he’s done with the resources he has, what is the biggest contract he’s ever signed a guy to? Cespedes?

          3
          Reply
        • arc89

          7 years ago

          Could be worse they could be the mariners or numerous other teams that never make it to the world series. Beane’s problem has always been bad decision making up for lack of payroll. No back up catcher in the KC wild card cost them once their catcher got hurt. Starting a reliever in the last WC was a big mistake. If the A’s can develop a Ace starter they could go further in the playoffs. You can’t win in the playoffs with middle of rotation starters.

          1
          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          When did the A’s make it to the World Series under Beane? The Las Vegas Slots..has a ring to it.

          4
          Reply
        • arc89

          7 years ago

          When did your team win anything? Never had but you come talking about the A’s so you do care about the A’s.

          1
          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          The AL Wild Card this year over those A’s..bub

          2
          Reply
        • Mattimeo09

          7 years ago

          Aww poor baby Yankees fan can’t deal with the fact Boston won it all.

          Good luck winning the division next year, you’re going to need it XD

          1
          Reply
        • arc89

          7 years ago

          4 times the amount of payroll and just to get knocked around by the red sox. If Beane had 4 x the payroll the A’s would have easily beat the spankies.

          Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          If if’s and but’s were candy and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas.

          1
          Reply
        • justin-turner overdrive

          7 years ago

          Nah, there’s a mountain of Blue Jays GMs who we all had to sit back and hear what geniuses they are. Preller too. Beane at least makes the playoffs basically 50% of the time, that’s good. Dipoto is more overrated than Beane too.

          1
          Reply
        • jdgoat

          7 years ago

          Do you do admit that it would be true Slevin?

          Reply
        • its_happening

          7 years ago

          Underdrive…the geniuses were just JP Ricciardi, a Billy Bean disciple, and Anthopoulos who was average. Wouldn’t call 2 guys “mountain”. Although if you include Pat Gillick, well, he’s in the Hall of Fame.

          Nobody is calling Atkins and genius. Not yet anyway.

          Reply
        • Happy2Engage

          7 years ago

          @arc89 but he doesn’t and he didn’t. Yanks eliminate A’s where have I heard that before?

          Reply
  6. stubby66

    7 years ago

    Honestly would love to see the Brewers sign Brett Anderson and resign Wade Miley then go after any of the higher priced starting pitchers

    1
    Reply
    • its_happening

      7 years ago

      Brewers need to set their sights higher than Brett Anderson. No disrespect to Anderson, but the Brewers need to be looking for guys that will put them over the top.

      3
      Reply
  7. its_happening

    7 years ago

    Surprised Oakland can afford to pay Melvin that kind of money. How many vending machines did they have to sell to cover that contract?

    4
    Reply
    • AsNchill

      7 years ago

      Always take care of your front office personnel, especially if you can’t afford to pay big bucks to players. The $700k or whatever Melvin gets a year is worth quite a bit more than $6M to some mediocre starter.

      Reply
      • its_happening

        7 years ago

        It was sarcasm. Beane doesn’t want to break in another guy to follow his game plan.

        Reply
        • AsNchill

          7 years ago

          He already has a guy broken in to follow his game plan. Christenson was a pretty valuable backup. Reason they didn’t have him manage Triple A again was to get him valuable experience at the big league level.

          Reply
    • jekporkins

      7 years ago

      The players have to drink Shasta cola for the next five years.

      3
      Reply
      • AsNchill

        7 years ago

        BC Cola actually.

        1
        Reply
  8. statman

    7 years ago

    Beane has to be the most over-rated GM in baseball history. He constantly uses his budget as an excuse and calls winning in the post-season a “crap-shoot.” As was apparent to anyone that watched the playoffs and WS this year, the Red Sox did not win simply by luck – and they didn’t rely purely on stats and launch angles like the Dodgers seem to do. Beane has made a ton of blunders over the years and has sabotaged his team’s chances to win in the post season (trading his clean-up hitter in the middle of the season, starting a journey-man middle reliever in the WC game this year, etc). Many of his trades have backfired (Donaldson, Ethier, Cargo, etc). The movie made about his exploits failed to point out that much of the success of the team that year was due to the starting pitchers acquired by the former GM and oh by the way, they failed to advance in the playoffs that year. The only think he’s been consistently good at is churning his roster which results in constant rebuilds and a team that has consistently finished close to last in home attendance year-in and year-out.

    8
    Reply
    • Slevin

      7 years ago

      “Most overrated” in sports history.

      5
      Reply
      • pater06

        7 years ago

        This is an insightful and thought-provoking comment that raises the level of discussion here. Thank you for taking the time to post this twice. It was so profound that it definitely needed to be said again.

        2
        Reply
        • Slevin

          7 years ago

          No, the first time I didn’t include the word “history”. Thanks for your input though.

          6
          Reply
        • pater06

          7 years ago

          You’re right, the addition of that one word totally changes the context and meaning of your other post. Your intellect is truly stunning.

          2
          Reply
    • sampsonite168

      7 years ago

      It’s a joke that he’s had the job that long.
      Marlins are low payroll and won a ring in the last 20 years.
      Royals are low payroll and won a ring in the last 20 years.
      Padres went to the WS. Rays went to the WS.

      Only other teams that haven’t won a single LCS game in the last 20 years are the Orioles, Twins and Reds, and they’ve all cycled through heads of front office multiple times in that span.

      8
      Reply
      • Slevin

        7 years ago

        Bullseye

        4
        Reply
      • its_happening

        7 years ago

        Twins snagged 1 game in the 2002 ALCS losing to the Angels. They can proceed with caution.

        1
        Reply
  9. walls17

    7 years ago

    Lol I can’t believe there’s still a discussion about billy beane being overrated. Those people are clowns

    3
    Reply
  10. oldhaus

    7 years ago

    How much input did Billy Beane the part owner have in extending Billy Beane the exec?

    4
    Reply
  11. azbobbop

    7 years ago

    Say what you want about the A’s, there is no denying that they have the very best performance vs. dollars spent over the last 20 years. Additionally they all of a sudden have a deep and toolsy farm system. Job well done here and more likely to come..

    1
    Reply
    • AsNchill

      7 years ago

      And Billy Beane said payroll will start increasing this year. Should be an interesting offseason for us.

      Reply
  12. statman

    7 years ago

    As a fan, who cares about performance vs dollars spent? I think most fans want wins, pure and simple. And wins in the post-season, most of all. The A’s churn and burn, turning over their roster continuously, thus creating very little attachment by the fans to their players, which in my opinion is partly responsible for their very low historic attendance figures. The other reason, I believe, is low relative fan base in the bay area.

    Reply
    • justin-turner overdrive

      7 years ago

      Every team turns over their roster constantly. Out of everyone Beane moved in a trade, only Hudson and Donaldson were the gaffs, and the Donaldson one is actually looking like a win if Barreto takes over 2B next year.

      The problem with the A’s isn’t Beane but Melvin. They should have never fired Ken Macha after he won a playoff series. Melvin is a career .500 manager who cant win big games or understands September baseball in the slightest. Luckily that might not matter if Beane assembles a team he can’t lose with, it just sucks watching people think he’s the reason when he’s the biggest flaw of the team. I mean his lineup creation was pathetic all season long, and he love of riding relievers grows old fast. But Ryan Christenson is the future and they need to keep him in house and hire him in 2023 or earlier.

      Reply
    • baycommuter 2

      7 years ago

      Beane, Forst, and Melvin have been outstanding. Giants took over the market when they built their new park. . With a mediocre GM/manager combo, the A’s attendance would be so low they’d be seriously talking about Portland instead of a new stadium near downtown.. (I’m a big fan but gave up my partial season tickets because the stadium is so depressing.)

      Reply
  13. julyn82001

    7 years ago

    Go A’s. Billy Beane is masterful dealing with tight resources. Forst follows Beane’s school and Melvin is the perfect Manager for a team that should be extremely competitive next year…

    Reply
  14. cxcx

    7 years ago

    “franksteined”

    Butchering a made up word in an overwrought attempt at interesting writing, great.

    Reply
  15. checkinyrjaws

    7 years ago

    Of course you gotta pay the guy that helps screw his guys out of their fair share. He makes the bottom line look good and that is his real contribution to the game. Thanks to Money Ball he is seen as a baseball guy instead of just a salary depressing number cruncher. He does just drive down salaries for the Athletics. Every contract extension he touches creates an perverse economic bonus that attracts other teams to trade for that “value” he created. Then it helps push down the arbitration figures for the rest of the guys who haven’t reached the magic number. The commish should give him a medal on behalf of the other owners.

    Reply

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