Opinion: After letting manager Bob Melvin leave for San Diego, Oakland A's now prepare for offseason of change

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Oakland A’s GM David Forst checked into the Omni Hotel on Monday afternoon, stopped and talked for 15 minutes to two reporters, but by the time he departs Thursday from the annual Major League Baseball's general managers' meetings, he might find himself the most popular executive at this luxurious golf resort.

The Athletics have yet to publicly reveal their intentions, but when you let your esteemed manager Bob Melvin depart to the San Diego Padres, saving yourself $4 million while seeking nothing in return, you don’t need an Ivy League degree to figure out the A’s future.

The A’s are planning to slash their payroll to a major-league low $50 million for the 2022 season, two MLB executives told USA TODAY Sports, but Forst said Monday that the budget has yet to be determined by owner John Fisher.

“Everybody clearly drew that line from the time Bob left,’’ Forst said. “I think right now we’re in the middle of those conversations with John. We don’t have an exact direction yet. But you look at our history, and we have three- or four-year runs and recognize where we are makes it necessary to step back.

“But we have not gotten to that point yet with ownership. Until that plan is really there, it’s hard to sort of time everything out.”

The A’s have been a playoff contender for the past four years, reaching the playoffs three consecutive seasons before falling to third place in the AL West this past season with an 86-76 record. But with no intention to spend money to keep up with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, they will listen to any and all offers for their star players.

It likely means the departure of All-Star infielders Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, who should bring in a horde of prospects. They each are eligible for salary arbitration for the second time this winter, and are under club control through the 2023 season.

The Athletics, of course, could have put themselves in better position to reach the postseason last season if they had just retained closer Liam Hendriks and shortstop Marcus Semien. But they didn’t even make an offer to keep Hendricks, and offered only a one-year, $12.5 million contact with $10 million in deferred payments to Semien.

Hendricks received $54 million from the Chicago White Sox, where he became an All-Star closer with a league-leading 38 saves and Semien became an All-Star second baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting 45 home runs ... the most by any second baseman in history.

The A’s, however, still decided to be aggressive at the trade deadline, acquiring All-Star center fielder Starling Marte from the Miami Marlins for young starter Jesus Luzardo. They also acquired Josh Harrison, Yan Gomes and Andrew Chafin. Yet, they collapsed down the stretch.

Marte becomes only a two-month rental with the A’s having no plans to bid on him as a free agent. Luzardo is gone. Their minor-league system plummeted to 27th, after the trades, according to Baseball America. Their payroll could shrink by $40 million. And they still are no closer to a new ballpark.

No misgivings, or even complaints, but it’s still a little tough for the Athletics to stomach watching Atlanta win 88 regular-season games and become World Series champions while they win 86 games and are now facing a rebuild.

“We brought in four guys who were incredible in the second half,’’ Forst said. “We just kind of came up short in our division against a team [Houston] two away from winning it all, and a bunch of other teams in the wild-card play that played very well.

“No regrets.”

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Melvin read the tea leaves, knowing what lays ahead, and asked permission to leave with a year left on his contract. The A’s didn’t hesitate. They couldn’t in good consciousness ask him to stay when they couldn’t offer him a multi-year contract extension. The Padres and New York Mets, Forst said, each were granted permission to speak to Melvin.

“In fairness to Bob,’’ Forst said, “there was going to be an opportunity for a multi-year deal that he did not have at Oakland. We thought it was only right to let him to pursue that. …

“We were going to do what was best for Bob, and Bob told us he wanted to at least take a look and pursue what was out there. It ended up being a good fit.’’

The A’s could have been sticklers and asked for compensation for Melvin, receiving at least a minor-league prospect, but they didn’t believe it was right to hold up any deal.

“You don’t want to complicate that process for Bob,’’ Forst said. “This was a good opportunity for him, a chance for us to move forward.”

Melvin, according to a person with direct knowledge of his contract, signed a three-year, $11.5 million deal that will pay him $3.5 million this year and $4 million a year in 2023 and 2024.

Just like that, Melvin inherits a playoff-caliber team, a massive payroll, a beautiful ballpark, and an ownership committed to winning immediately.

“It’s all about winning at this point,” Melvin said at his introductory press conference. “When you have a roster like that and have the people who give you the resources and backing to do it, I don’t know if there is a better destination in baseball at this point.’’

Said Forst: “He understood our situation. We understood why he would want to get some security. Again, it wasn’t just anybody. It was a team that had a roster built to win. That’s what all of us are in this for, so it totally made sense.”

Melvin, a three-time manager of the year winner, leaves the A’s having won more games during his 11-year career than any manager in Oakland A's history.

Now, Melvin has a chance to manage a team in the World Series.

“I’ll say this,’’ Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa said, “there is nobody better. No one. He’s as good a manager as I’ve ever seen.’’

The A’s are left seeking their first manager since 2011 when they hired Melvin. Forst declined to comment on managerial candidates outside the organization, saying they have not asked any team for permission, but acknowledged that third base coach Mark Kotsay, bench coach Ryan Christenson and hitting coach Darren Bush “can be major-league managers.”

“Nobody’s going to replace Bob,’’ Forst said. “We have both internal and external candidates that we’re interested in talking to. I don’t think we have a timeline for it yet. Obviously, there’s a lot of uncertainty out there with the CBA, with the ballpark situation. There’s a lot of variables.

“We don’t actually need a manager until February.”

The A’s, of course, are hoping to find someone before the start of spring training, but no matter who they hire, they likely will have a young team with no realistic hopes for the playoffs. Simply, when you’re a small market team with the hopes of a new ballpark stalled once again, you’ve got no choice but to endure a rebuild twice a decade.

“That’s kind of our loft,’’ Forst said. “I don’t think we bemoan it. We understand that’s the process here in Oakland. The goal is to get a ballpark and not have to go through that every three to four years.”

Does he dare dream of having a brand new ballpark, generating a 2.5 million fanbase one day?

“Only for 22 years,’’ Forst said. “My interview with [president] Billy [Beane] was in ’99. I asked him how’s the ballpark coming along?”

Beane’s response?

“We’re getting close.”

Two decades, four managers, one movie, and no World Series appearances later, the A’s are back at square one.

Welcome to the Oakland A’s way.

Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter @Bnightengale.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oakland A's back to square one after Bob Melvin leaves for Padres