Athletics plan an extension for Melvin

Astros

By The Associated Press

The Oakland Athletics plan to discuss a contract extension with manager Bob Melvin this offseason as well as possible new deals with home run leader Khris Davis and All-Star second baseman Jed Lowrie.

Two days after the A’s lost to the New York Yankees in a wild-card game, team officials began mapping out the framework for 2019 with hopes of capitalizing on the team’s first playoff appearance in four years.

Signing Melvin, Oakland’s manager since 2011, to an extension is high on the list of things to do. He currently is signed through the 2019 season.

“Bob’s one of the best in the game and he’s perfect for us,” said executive vice president Billy Beane, who appeared before reporters Friday along with Melvin and general manager David Forst.

“The idea is that he’s here for a long time and the rest of his career. Our feeling is that Bob’s the right guy for this club and should be going forward. [That’s] another question that we hope to have answered in the offseason.”

The A’s playoff appearance was the fourth in eight seasons under Melvin. Oakland’s 97-65 record was also the best mark of Melvin’s managerial career.

Reliever Hector Rondon, who manager A.J. Hinch said was “very upset” about not making the ALDS roster, did not come onto the field when he was introduced with the team’s reserves before the game. He also was not on the field for the national anthem, but did join the team in the dugout for the game. Rondon, signed by the Astros to a two-year deal in the offseason, was left off the roster in favor of hard-throwing rookie Josh James because of his ability to throw multiple innings.

Elsewhere

A Houston Astros fan bought “about $500” worth of beer for those sitting around him after predicting George Springer would homer Friday in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. “I just love my team, man,” Eddie Flores told the Houston Chronicle after buying the brew.