Call to the pen
Fansided

Six possible managerial candidates for the Oakland A’s

By Noah Yingling

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTMEBER 22: Third Base Coach Mark Kotsay #7 of the Oakland Athletics makes a pitching change during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 22, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 4-1. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTMEBER 22: Third Base Coach Mark Kotsay #7 of the Oakland Athletics makes a pitching change during the game against the Seattle Mariners at RingCentral Coliseum on September 22, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 4-1. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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Mark Kotsay is a managerial candidate for the Oakland A's
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

The Oakland A’s, inexplicably, let Bob Melvin leave without any compensation to the San Diego Padres. In all reality, it was likely a cost-saving measure as Melvin (who has been an MLB manager for part of 18 seasons including the past 11 with Oakland) has a higher salary than a first-time manager would. All six possible candidates that we talk about today would be a first-time manager.

Currently, they are one of two teams that still do not have a manager (the other being the New York Mets) so while the lockout is in place, hiring a manager will be their number one priority. The A’s are doing exactly that as they have reportedly interviewed three candidates and plan on interviewing three more candidates in the coming days.

Here’s a little bit of a look into the six possible managerial candidates for the Oakland A’s

Mark Kotsay may be the top internal managerial candidate for the Oakland A’s

Along with Bob Melvin leaving for San Diego, his bench coach Ryan Christenson left to be Melvin’s bench coach there so the top internal candidate for the Oakland A’s is third base coach Mark Kotsay.

Kotsay, 46, played 17 years in the majors, including four seasons with the A’s from 2004 through 2007. After he retired, he became a special assistant for the Padres for a season before becoming their hitting coach in 2015. He then jumped over to Oakland in 2016 as Melvin’s bench coach. He switched roles for 2018 as he became their quality control coach. That’s the role he had until he was promoted to third base coach before the 2021 season.

Kotsay has interviewed for other MLB managerial jobs before, including with the Detroit Tigers last offseason before they hired A.J. Hinch, and in Boston and Houston. He is viewed as a future manager by most in the industry so odds are, the A’s will choose him if they go with an internal candidate.

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