Jon Daniels Declined Athletics General Manager Job

The former Rangers executive has removed his name from consideration for the Oakland front office role.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Baseball

Jon Daniels Declined Athletics General Manager Job

Live Poll

Do you trust your local team's current approach to hiring front office leadership?

Jon Daniels has declined to pursue the open general manager position with the Athletics. Daniels currently serves as a senior advisor within the Rays baseball operations department.

Why it matters

Daniels opted to prioritize his current professional responsibilities and family time over taking on a new leadership role. The Athletics are continuing their search for a front office head to manage the organization.

Jon Daniels led the Rangers front office for 18 seasons between 2005 and 2022. The Athletics are currently evaluating multiple candidates, including Mike Rizzo, James Click, Mike Groopman, Taylor Smith, and Billy Owens.

The players

Jon Daniels

He is a former front office executive who led the Rangers for 18 years and currently serves as a senior advisor for the Rays.

Athletics

The team is a professional baseball organization currently searching for a new general manager to lead their front office operations.

Rays

The organization is a professional baseball team that currently employs Jon Daniels as a senior advisor.

Rangers

The team is a professional baseball club where Jon Daniels managed front office operations for nearly two decades.

The details

The Athletics are actively interviewing candidates to fill their general manager vacancy. While reports indicated the team hoped to secure a leader by the end of the season, the search remains ongoing.

2005-2022: Jon Daniels held his leadership role with the Rangers.
November 2022: Daniels started his tenure as a senior advisor for the Rays.
September 14, 2026: The Athletics expressed a desire to complete their hire by the end of the season.
September 28, 2026: Jon Daniels declined to be considered for the Oakland position.

Season Trajectory

The search for a new general manager represents a critical pivot point for the organization as it looks to establish long-term stability in its front office. This hiring decision will directly influence the team's ability to execute its roster strategy for upcoming seasons.

The Athletics continue to evaluate candidates including Mike Rizzo, James Click, Mike Groopman, Taylor Smith, and Billy Owens. The selection of a permanent general manager will finalize the team's front office authority for future player transactions.

The takeaway

Front office searches often involve multiple high-profile candidates and can be influenced by an executive's desire for work-life balance. Teams must often pivot quickly when preferred candidates decline to pursue a role.