Athletics Closing In on New Head of Baseball Operations, Hire Could Come This Week

The Athletics may finally be close to naming their next front-office leader, with recent reports suggesting a hire could happen within the week. The search has dragged on since early August, when former general manager David Forst was let go and assistant GM Dan Feinstein stepped in on an interim basis. Feinstein is not considered a candidate for the permanent job, which would make the new hire the club's first full-time head of baseball operations in more than two months. The latest names connected to the opening are Phillies president of business operations Sam Fuld, Cubs assistant GM Jared Banner, Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine and Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio, according to reporting from The New York Times summarized by MLB Trade Rumors. They join a long list of previously reported candidates that includes A's assistant GM Billy Owens, Red Sox assistant GMs Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith, former Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and former Astros GM James Click. For a franchise in the middle of a complicated transition — playing in West Sacramento while its Las Vegas stadium plans advance — getting the baseball department settled is a significant step toward the next era.