The Athletics are reportedly zeroing in on candidates for their vacant general manager position, and one of them has a World Series ring to show for his efforts.
USA Today reported Sunday that the A’s have interviewed two candidates for the job while another one is on their short list.
Mike Rizzo, the general manager of the Washington Nationals when they won the 2019 World Series, reportedly had a formal interview recently. He was the Nationals’ GM from 2009-2025 and was fired when they started his final season 37–53.
Rizzo also is interested in the Houston Astros GM opening, but that franchise has yet to start interviewing for its opening, USA Today reported.
A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens, who has been a scout and coach since 1999, also had a formal interview. And James Click, Toronto’s vice president of baseball strategy, is under consideration but has yet to interview.
The A’s job became available Aug. 7, when general manager David Forst agreed to part ways with the team, ending his 27-year run with the franchise.
The A’s, who will be moving to Las Vegas and a new ballpark on the Strip in 2028, have not had a winning season since 2021. Multiple reports said Forst and his family didn’t want to move to Las Vegas.
Forst oversaw the team’s run to the playoffs three times during his 11 seasons as GM, yet they won only one series. Their best seasons under him were 2018 and 2019 when they won 97 games in both years. He built the current roster that has secured rising stars Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson.
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein has the job on an interim basis while the team searches for a permanent replacement.
