Graney: Taylor Smith needs to surround Athletics with competence

New Athletics president of baseball operations Taylor Smith acknowledged Wednesday that his success depends on surrounding himself with people who know more than he does in their respective areas. The 31-year-old, the youngest to hold such a role in the major leagues, was introduced at a press conference alongside owner John Fisher and manager Mark Kotsay.

Fisher said the organization went outside its ranks for the first time in 70 years to fill the position, passing over internal candidates such as Dave Stewart, Ed Sprague and Billy Owens. "We wanted to talk to a lot of different people," Fisher said. "One thing you learn going through this is how other teams think. We don't always work and live in a vacuum." He cited Smith's brilliance, understanding of the game and appreciation for player development as deciding factors.

Smith spent seven years with the Tampa Bay Rays, rising to director of predictive modeling, and the last two with the Boston Red Sox. He said his approach will be built on analytics regarding acquisitions, development and in-game strategy. "You want to surround yourself with very smart and competent people and leverage their skills the best way possible," Smith said. "You can't do it all by yourself. You always want to hire people that know more than you in the areas you're hiring them for."

That staff will include Kotsay, who is signed through 2028 when the team is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas. The veteran manager, with more than 30 years of experience, said analytics and gut feel can co-exist. "A lot of times, your eyes are matching what the data tells you," Kotsay said. "Over a 162-game season, the analytics generally play themselves out. But in the heat of the moment... you have that gut feel when you have to make a decision."

Fisher dismissed concerns about Smith's age, noting that tech companies globally are often run by people in their 30s. He said having someone so young lead a massive undertaking is not rare today.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal