A’s keeping the brain trust together
A day after the Red Sox won the World Series, A’s executive vice president Billy Beane called them the best team since the 1998 Yankees.
“It’s a pretty unique team,” Beane said Monday. “They hit home runs, they make contact, they wear pitchers out. They’re just really good. That’s why they’re the world champions.”
Oakland bowed out long before the World Series, falling to the Yankees in the wildcard game, but the A’s made big strides by escaping last place for the first time since 2014 and winning 97 games.
Anything to take from Boston’s run to the championship?
“You may want to copy them,” Beane said, “but the ability to do so isn’t so easy.”
The A’s want to take the next step in 2019 and get deeper into the postseason, and the first order of business was conducted Monday when the team announced multiyear contract extensions for Beane, general manager David Forst and manager Bob Melvin.
All had been signed through 2019. Forst got a fouryear extension through 2023. Melvin got two extra years with a 2022 club option that will place him among the highest-paid managers at roughly $3.5 million per season, The Chronicle learned.
Beane’s contract length is unknown, but the expectation is that his long-term involvement will continue indefinitely, particularly considering his ownership stake in the club.
With the future of the management team secure, the offseason focus will be to upgrade a rotation that was stricken by injuries and nonexistent by season’s end. The A’s tried to sneak by the Yankees using all relievers, but the strategy didn’t work.
Beane said the A’s will seek rotation help from outside the organization to mix in with the in-house crop to “create a starting pitching group that Bob can rely on every day.”
The plan is for the payroll, lowest in the majors when the season began, to increase in 2019 and subsequent years, said Beane, adding he and Forst will meet with owner John Fisher on Tuesday to discuss finances as far out as five years.
“Everyone’s chasing that great rotation,” Beane said. “Very few teams have it. It costs a lot of money if you’re going to go out and buy it. Ideally, it’s created organically through the draft. We have some really good guys coming.”
There was speculation the A’s, whose business department has undergone massive changes, would break up the front office, which Beane has overseen since 1998. Instead, it remains intact long term.
Forst, who has spent 19 years with the A’s, 15 as Beane’s assistant and three as the GM, has turned down several interview requests with other teams, most recently from the Giants, The Chronicle confirmed. The Giants are hiring someone to take over baseball operations.
Last winter, the Yankees asked the A’s if they could interview Melvin for their managerial job and were denied. The Giants could have an opening when Bruce Bochy’s contract expires after next season.
“I assure you,” Beane said, “they’re employable outside here. So the fact we all have stayed or do want to stay, there is something pretty special about this place.”
On his own status with the club (he’s a part owner), Beane said, “I’m very proud of my association with the A’s. I anticipate having a long-term relationship, and that was secured during this negotiation.” Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com, jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser, @JohnSheaHey