Manager Mark Kotsay has signed a contract extension with the Oakland Athletics through the 2028 season, with a club option for 2029. This announcement came on the first full-squad workout day of spring training, with Kotsay expressing his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to lead the team forward.
Kotsay, who has been with the Athletics for four seasons, has guided the team through a challenging period that included a move from Oakland to Sacramento, California, with eventual plans to relocate to Las Vegas. Despite these transitions, the team showed improvement last season with a 19-win increase from the previous year.
The Athletics are optimistic about their young roster, which includes promising players like Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler, and JJ Bleday. The team is aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, following a .500 record after the All-Star break last season.
Key offseason signings, such as Rooker's $60 million, five-year deal and Luis Severino's $67 million, three-year contract, demonstrate the team's commitment to competing in the AL West. General manager David Forst praised Kotsay's leadership during the team's transition and expressed confidence in his ability to guide the franchise through future challenges.
Kotsay, a former MLB outfielder who played for the Athletics from 2004-07, initially had a three-year contract that was extended through 2025 in November 2023. With the new extension, Kotsay now has job security as the team embarks on its Sacramento tenure.
