Beane to remain in front office

Longtime A’s exec returns after RedBall-Fenway deal falls through

After 20 years at the helm, Billy Beane looked headed for the exit this year. But the longtime Oakland A’s executive said he’s staying for the 2021 season, at least.

The transaction that had Beane’s RedBall Acquisitions, a blank-check corporation he formed, investing in a 20-25% stake of Fenway Sports Group fell through, according to Axios. Due to the possible conflict of interest between Fenway Sports

Group, the parent company of the Boston Red Sox, Beane might have had to step aside from his A’s duties had the deal been successful.

According to Axios, the deal fell through because RedBall couldn’t raise enough outside capital and will continue to seek out an acquisition target, perhaps in soccer or gaming.

Beane said he can’t comment on the matter.

“As I sort of joke to people, the great thing about being involved in public companies: You don’t get to comment on anything,” Beane said on The Athletic’s “The TK Show” with Tim Kawakami. “So I wish I could give you some direction one way or the other, but I just can’t. I’m not really allowed to comment beyond that.”

So, Beane will be running the A’s as they navigate this strange offseason. Cash strapped, they’ve lost two of their star players to free agency already — Liam Hendriks and Marcus Semien. Beane said on the podcast that he’s concerned about how to fill the gaps that are now starting to gape. They’ll need to get creative in finding internal options and outside ones within their alarmingly tight financial constraints to hoist this small window of contention

back open again with this talented core.

But perhaps this round of building and maintaining a contender will be Beane’s last in Oakland.

The A’s know Beane could soon move on to bigger and better things.

On the podcast, Beane said it’s hard to get off the ride.

“Listen, it’s hard to say when,” Beane said. “Or I might be here forever and we go try and land a 20-inch

brown trout as my retirement plan. It’s really hard to say.

“I don’t know, we’ll see what happens. In the meantime, I’m very proud and still very, very happy to be here.”

KARL MONDON — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s vice president of baseball operations, watches the first day of spring training for position players at Fitch Park in Mesa, Ariz., last February.