Mark Kotsay has received no assurances that he'll be back in 2027 with a new GM hire on the way. His players are clear about what they want to happen.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay has received no assurances that he'll return in 2027. His status is in question after the team fired GM David Forst in August and has been conducting a search for his replacement. A new GM is expected in the coming weeks.
When a new GM comes into any organization, one change that frequently happens is at the manager position, with the new person in charge wanting their own guy on the bench.
One factor that could play a role in Kotsay sticking around is the turmoil he's had to face during the A's relocation saga. When the team was still in Oakland, he was the one answering all of the tough questions on a daily basis. That earned him a contract extension that runs through 2028, so he's already under contract.
The other factor is that he's been there with some of the core pieces of the roster through this transition from Oakland to West Sacramento, and potentially to Las Vegas. Having someone who shares that lived experience with guys like Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, and Jacob Wilson — four players signed to long-term extensions — is important.
The players we spoke with came to Kotsay from different places: Zack Gelof, a young core piece in 2023, who fought through struggles and injuries the past two seasons before rebounding this season; Jeffrey Springs, a veteran acquired before the move to Sacramento who endured a difficult season in 2026; and Donovan Walton and Alika Williams, midseason additions who filled roles as injuries piled up.
"I think it's pretty important," Gelof said of having a manager that has been through these organizational changes with the roster on Sunday. "He's been there through it all. My first spring training, when there was a lockout in '22, to getting called up, and dealing with struggles as a team. He's been the guy since the beginning. I'm hopeful he's back."
Gelof also said that he's curious to see what happens this offseason with the A's GM search, and conceded that typically a new GM wants their own guy.
Since Kotsay took over as the A's manager ahead of the 2022 season, the A's record has been 319-491, good for a .394 winning percentage.
"I know the win-loss percentage sucks for [Kotsay]," Gelof said, "but he's also had to go through rebuilds and then like this year, injuries. I feel like it's not a reflection of him, it's just a reflection of the personnel that we've had."
Gelof has spent the past two years battling to recapture his form, and Kotsay has stuck with him through those ebbs. Gelof has said numerous times this season that he never felt like the organization gave up on him.
Williams spent the 2025 season in Triple-A Indianapolis with the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, but after Wilson landed on the IL on May 12, the A's needed a depth player who could play shortstop. Williams took this opportunity and ran with it, batting .270 with a .307 OBP in 88 games played, potentially earning a role for 2027.
"I enjoyed playing for Kotsay tremendously," Williams said. "Maybe I'm a little biased because I got to play a lot and he's from San Diego, but he's a great guy. From day one he made me feel welcome. He told me, 'just go out there and be you.' I've learned a lot from him."
Walton, another in-season addition to the roster, carved out a role for himself as a veteran presence for this young team this summer when injuries continued to pile up.
"I think Kotsay has been great," Walton said. "He's a baseball guy. He's done it. I think guys gravitate towards that."
Springs was dealt a tough hand as a fly-ball pitcher thrown into a hitter's park and finished the 2026 campaign with a 4-14 record and a 6.18 ERA.
"I think he did a great job of handling the changes from the [firing of] the GM to the pitching coach and try to [have] steady messaging," Springs said. "Again, when you fire a GM, if you've played long enough, you kind of understand the possibilities of what could happen or what might happen. The human element is, you can't help but think about it. For everything that's on his plate, I thought he did a great job managing it and staying as positive as possible."
Kotsay was present during the team's end-of-season press conference, but that may not be an indication one way or another of what his future with the franchise will be. The ultimate determination will come once the club hires a GM.
