Athletics Hire Taylor Smith as Baseball President

The 31-year-old executive joins the organization as it navigates a transition in leadership.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Baseball

Athletics Hire Taylor Smith as Baseball President

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The Athletics have appointed Taylor Smith as their new president of baseball operations. The hire comes as the organization seeks a leader focused on player performance measurement.

Why it matters

The team is undergoing significant management restructuring following a 64-98 season in West Sacramento. Smith joins the staff as the franchise prepares for a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028.

Taylor Smith, 31, brings experience from nine combined seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. This comes after a season where the Athletics finished with a 64-98 record.

The players

Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith is the newly appointed president of baseball operations for the Athletics.

David Forst

David Forst served as the general manager of the Athletics from 2015 until 2026.

Dan Feinstein

Dan Feinstein served as the interim general manager for the Athletics to finish the season.

The details

Smith steps into the role as the organization transitions away from the tenure of David Forst, who served as general manager from 2015 to 2026. The team remains on the hunt for a permanent general manager to replace interim lead Dan Feinstein.

David Forst began working with the organization in 2000.
Forst became general manager in 2015.
The organization announced Forst would not return in August 2026.
The Athletics hired Taylor Smith on October 19, 2026.
The team is scheduled to move to Las Vegas in 2028.

Season Trajectory

The hiring of Smith reflects a shift toward the Tampa Bay Rays player development and analytics model, which the organization hopes will improve performance outcomes. This move sets the tone for a roster overhaul as the club looks toward its move to Las Vegas in 2028.

The Athletics are currently operating without a general manager, meaning a key front-office vacancy remains for the team. Fans and analysts will now watch for Smith's upcoming personnel decisions that will dictate the team's roster depth heading into the next year.

The takeaway

The addition of a young, analytics-focused executive suggests a long-term rebuilding phase for the franchise. The focus remains on establishing a competitive core before the team finalizes its relocation plans.