New MLB Rumors on A's Executive Search, Top Candidates from Phillies and Red Sox

A strong contender has reportedly emerged in the Athletics' search for a new president of baseball operations.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan , Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith is a "top candidate" for the job, while St. Louis Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio is expected to stay put.

Passan also reported that the A's offered their president of baseball ops position to former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Sam Fuld, but Fuld turned it down and decided to remain as the Phillies' president of business operations.

Each Team's Biggest Roster Hole to Fix in Offseason ⚾

The Athletics' lead baseball executive job became available in August when they fired David Forst after he had served as general manager since 2016.

The A's have not reached the playoffs since 2020, which marked the last of three consecutive trips to the postseason.

While the team showed some signs of improvement last season with a 76-86 record after winning 69 games in 2024 and 50 games in 2023, the Athletics took a step back in 2026.

With a 64-98 mark, the A's finished fourth in a very winnable American League West, as the Houston Astros took the division with only an 81-81 record.

Formerly located in Oakland, the Athletics have played the past two seasons in Sacramento as they await the construction of their new ballpark in Las Vegas, which is expected to be ready for the 2028 season.

The A's have some talented pieces in place, especially offensively in the form of Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte.

However, the Athletics are lacking on the pitching end and could use a top exec capable of acquiring and developing pitchers.

Smith could potentially be the guy, as Boston's assistant GM was formerly part of the Tampa Bay Rays' front office, and few teams are better known for their pitching development than the Rays.