Two months after the Athletics and general manager David Forst mutually agreed to part ways, the team reportedly is growing closer to naming his replacement.
The A’s list of candidates has grown to include Philadelphia Phillies president of business operations Sam Fuld and Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday, citing sources.
Mooney and Rosenthal also write that the A’s are expected to make a decision this week.
Fuld played eight MLB seasons, including two stints in Oakland. In 2017, he announced his retirement as a player and immediately joined the Philadelphia Phillies as major league player information coordinator under then-manager Gabe Kapler.
After the 2020 season, Fuld was named the Phillies general manager, serving in the position until transitioning to his current role of president of baseball operations after the 2024 season. With Fuld serving as GM, the Phillies reached the postseason in all but one season, highlighted by winning the NL pennant in 2022.
Banner, now serving as assistant GM for the Cubs, has spent five seasons with the organization. He played a large role in advocating for the Cubs to trade for outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong in 2021, Mooney and Rosenthal wrote.
Banner’s front office experience spans nearly two decades. He started as a player development intern with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 after graduating from Amherst College.
Mooney and Rosenthal’s report also includes Milwaukee Brewers assistant general manager Matt Klein, Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith, and St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio as candidates for the A’s front office vacancy.
A previous report from USA Today’s Marcus D. Smith included former Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and Toronto Blue Jays vice president of baseball strategy James Click.
Smith’s report also includes A’s assistant general manager and director of player personnel Billy Owens as a candidate, who appears to be the leading internal option for promotion.
The A’s said in their statement announcing Forst’s departure that the franchise will “begin a comprehensive search” for their next general manager. The exhaustive list of reported candidates indicates that the franchise is casting a wide net as promised.
Forst served in the A’s front office for 27 years and the last 11 as general manager. He led the franchise to three postseason appearances during his tenure.