The A's skipper was asked if the organization has provided any assurances about his future with the club. Kotsay gave an honest answer, then turned his focus to what comes next.
When the Athletics fired GM David Forst in early August, Athletics Roundtable immediately questioned what kind of an impact that would have on the status of manager Mark Kotsay, who is signed to a guaranteed contract through the 2028 season.
Typically the role of the GM or President of Baseball Operations is tied to the manager, with the common practice being for new additions in the front office bringing their own guys along to lead the team on the field.
Heading into the final three games of the 2026 season, the A's have held a 318-489 record (.394 winning percentage) since he took over in 2022, which has raised questions over whether the organization will keep him through the remainder of his contract, or go in a new direction.
"I mean, no assurances," Kotsay said when asked if the organization has provided any assurances for himself moving forward. "In terms of what the future holds for the organization, obviously the word that I would use right now is change. I talk about change a lot, and I think change can be good.
"Obviously it can be challenging to go through, but at the same time, when you come out on the other side, a lot of times there's more success to be had. I think the timelines are still not solidified in terms of who will be leading the organization. But once that person is in place, there's a lot of relationships we'll start building."
The person leading the organization is in reference to the A's missing GM or POBO, depending on which route they decide to go. Forst was the team's POBO, but didn't go by that title, instead holding onto general manager.
Kotsay also mentions that his plan is to begin building that relationship with whomever is brought in, which seems to be an indication that he will be operating business as usual unless he's told otherwise.
While the trend is typically that a new head of baseball operations will choose their own guys, keeping Kotsay has its benefits. In an offseason that is expected to contain a lockout, having the players come back with the same guy leading the way would offer some much-needed continuity in an otherwise tumultuous time.
A lockout would crunch the offseason into a condensed timeframe, with spring training beginning shortly after an agreement is reached. The organization is unable to contact players during the lockout, so a change would mean meeting a new manager for the first time at camp.
A new front office with new ideas and a coaching staff that isn't as versed in how to communicate with the players — while also trying to build their own relationships with them — isn't a surefire recipe for success.
Given that the A's need to be a success when they land in Las Vegas in 2028, taking away as many unknowns as possible would be beneficial for the club in 2027.
On the other side of that same coin, if the A's didn't improve in 2027 and the team decided to make a move next offseason, that would provide an odd disconnect between manager and players as well, with a lot of the roster having played a good chunk of time in West Sacramento, or even Oakland, and a new manager wouldn't have that shared experience that could hinder a connection.
The A's are reportedly hoping to have a GM selected by the end of the season — presumably the postseason — and have five known candidates thus far.
