Athletics promote 3rd base coach Mark Kotsay to manager
The Oakland Athletics have promoted third base coach Mark Kotsay to manager, replacing the departed Bob Melvin, the team announced Tuesday.
Introducing the 19th manager in Oakland Athletics history, Mark Kotsay. pic.twitter.com/dY5qgsX7ky
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) December 21, 2021
Kotsay signed a three-year contract with a club option for 2025, according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Kotsay beat out several strong candidates for the position, including Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada.
Oakland A's managerial candidates who have or are expected to interview soon: Mark Kotsay, Matt Quatraro, Will Venable, Joe Espada, Marcus Jensen and Darren Bush, sources tell me and @Ken_Rosenthal
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) December 6, 2021
Kotsay, Jensen and Bush all currently with the organization.
Kotsay, who played 17 seasons in the majors, has been on the Athletics' staff since 2016. He's previously served as bench coach and worked in quality control roles. This will be his first managerial job at any level.
The 46-year-old will take over an Athletics team that's expected to look vastly different in 2022 after Starling Marte and Mark Canha departed in free agency.
Oakland is reportedly interested in trading several other players, including Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, and Frankie Montas.
Melvin managed the A's for 11 seasons before the San Diego Padres hired him as their new manager in November.