The Oakland Athletics have been the biggest surprise in MLB this year, emerging as a legitimate contender despite the league’s cheapest roster. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Bob Melvin, yet he’s been behind a phenomenal campaign that has culminated with Oakland earning a Wild Card bid.
Now, the A’s are reportedly set to reward Melvin for his outstanding work. Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports reports the team wants to sign the manager to a contract extension following the season.
“Melvin’s bosses especially recognize how deftly Melvin has handled major turnover and attrition and have no intention of letting him go. The A’s not only became the first team to qualify for the playoffs after starting the year with the lowest payroll in baseball ($66 million) but they lost about a half-dozen starting pitchers, including Sean Manaea, Kendall Graveman and Jharel Cotton.”
Heyman also reports that president Billy Beane and GM David Forst, whose contracts are also both up after 2019, will likely receive extensions of their own.
Without an extension, Melvin would be entering the 2019 season with just one year left on his current contract after signing a one-year extension a year ago.
A former Manager of the Year in both leagues, Melvin continues to establish himself as one of the best in the business.