Athletics president of baseball operations Taylor Smith and general manager Cam Castro were introduced Thursday, emphasizing analytics and player development, but their success hinges on whether owner John Fisher provides the financial resources to compete.
Smith, 31, spent seven years with Tampa Bay and two with Boston, while Castro, 36, comes from an eight-year stint with Milwaukee that included a World Series title. Both have experience winning with payrolls below the top of the market, but they acknowledged they will need support from ownership to turn around a franchise that lost 98 games last season while playing in a Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento.
Fisher called Smith's hiring the first time in 70 years the organization looked outside for such a critical role, highlighting his background in data and analysis. Castro, who oversaw player development for the Brewers, stressed maximizing every player's potential, noting that better players lead to better teams.
Smith said Castro was hired for his ability to create a comprehensive development system, not just for his pitching expertise, though Milwaukee's dominant postseason staff showcased that strength. Pitching has been a primary weakness for the A's in recent years.
Both executives hope to import the winning cultures they experienced with the Rays and Brewers. Castro described the Milwaukee environment as having no ego and being entirely focused on the players, a dynamic he aims to replicate in Las Vegas ahead of the team's planned 2028 arrival.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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