The Athletics have exercised manager Mark Kotsay’s contract option for the 2025 season, the team announced. This gives the skipper some job security, as he now knows he won’t enter the 2024 campaign a lame duck.
Earlier this offseason, the Athletics gave Kotsay permission to interview for the Mets’ managerial opening. He was one of the last candidates they interviewed, but he was reportedly removed from consideration before the Mets made their final decision (per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic).
Kotsay played 17 MLB seasons, including four with the A’s. Following his retirement, he spent a brief stint as the Padres hitting coach, before he returned to Oakland and joined then-manager Bob Melvin’s staff in 2016. Over six seasons, he served as bench coach, quality control coach, and third base coach. When Melvin left for his own short stint with the Padres in 2022, Kotsay took over as manager, signing a three-year deal with a team option for 2025. That option has now been picked up.
Evidently, the Athletics are happy with Kotsay’s performance over the last two seasons. While the team has a .340 winning percentage under his leadership, a manager can only do so much with the roster he’s given.
“Mark’s leadership, character, and integrity have been a hallmark of his time with the A’s; first as a player and a coach, and, for the last two years, as our manager,” said general manager David Forst (per MLB.com). “Picking up his option was an obvious decision to make for our club, and I look forward to having him lead the A’s on the field through 2025 and hopefully beyond.”
Phew!!! What a relief for a’s fans coming out to root on their team next year … BOTH OF THEM!!!
Such a stale joke. You need new material.
It’s nice they have each other. At least they can high five each other still.
THAT joke was better. Good job.
Lifelong Pirates fans know how to make a quality joke about a bad team. It just comes with the territory.
Fisher is that you?? Ever finish your Vegas stadium plans or just use your etch a sketch.
True statement. There is only so much Kotsay can do while the A’s are fully embarking a retool fashion. Hopefully, the 2024 season will provide better results on the field for the young A’s…
The Athletics franchise is one franchise I have zero sympathy for. Kotsay is a good guy from all accounts, dude deserves a better roster than what he’s gotten…
Ouch. As an A’s fan, I feel bad for some other franchises. Angels – having had two of the best players EVER and not making postseason (in Ohtani era) because of owner getting in the way. Mariners – make playoffs for the first time in 2 decades then have a stale offseason and trade away closer at deadline. Rangers – even though a division rival, I wanted to see them win. Cool to see a franchise that’s been around that long win their first, and very happy to see Semien win one.
So I have sympathy for other franchises, even rivals. John Fisher is a villainous owner and deserves all the hate, but I take franchise to include fans. Oakland has good fans that have constantly been dumped on by ownership. Oakland fans serve better.
My disdain is towards the owner. A’s fans deserve so much better.
Well said. Agree completely
I have been to a couple of A’s games when visiting the Bay Area and they doing have some great fans who deserve so much better from their owner.
First Counsell, now this? Man, this offseason is crazy.
I watched and listened to a fair few Oakland games this year and I think Kotsay is honestly a pretty solid coach. There’s only so much you can do with that threadbare rotation and bullpen. He gave shots to struggling players–but not usually long enough to warrant a “what are we doing here, man?”
There is *some* intrigue on the hitting side, but they REALLY need to develop some arms and bring in a couple of vet innings-eaters this offseason and/or guys that could develop some upside. Nick Martinez, Ryu, and Rich Hill are probably the guys in their price point that they could then flip at the TDL if they’re overperforming expectations. Although they didn’t move Trevor May when he was one of the most obvious trade deadline candidates they had… so no guarantee a vet will want to come in on a 1-year deal after seeing that (not that Martinez or Ryu are necessarily looking for a 1-year deal).
Sad. I remember the Oakland A’s of the late 80’s and 90’s being a very popular franchise.
Speaking of late 80s Oakland, athletic baseball, whatever happened to Esther Canseco?
You should have watched them in the early 70’s. Those were some great teams.
Ewwwww
Money Ball? What a joke! It’s all a facade and ownership/fans are drinking the koolaide!
Yeah better sign Kotsay. They’re just lining up for that position
Great. He did an awesome job of managing the team last year and came close to entering the playoffs.
Since the A’s owner doesn’t care about winning, only keeping payroll as low as possible, Kotsay is the perfect choice.
Only the A’s would extend a manager who lost 112 games last season and 214 games the last two season. True, he had nothing to work with but maybe the ownership should make signing quality players their top priority. The team actually celebrated Kotsay’s 100th win recently. Only took 2 years to get there. Wow, a great franchise has really tanked.
Grats Kots! Keep at ’em
Congratulations to the manager of the 2025 Lompoc A’s.
As a true lifelong fan of this franchise, going back to mid-fifties, seeing the current state of affairs is very painful.
The bulk of the blame falls on the commissioner who has allowed this disgraceful “owner” to gut this team.
Owning a major league franchise is a unique “blessing” and the owner’s responsibility is to put the best team they can on the field. Otherwise, sell it to somebody who will. What is happening here is a total lack of integrity.