The Athletics and general manager David Forst have mutually agreed to part ways, ending his 27-year tenure with the organization, the team announced Friday.
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein will serve as interim GM for the remainder of the season while the Athletics search for a permanent replacement.
Forst, 50, joined the organization as a scout in 2000 and became Billy Beane’s assistant general manager four years later. He took over as GM after the 2015 season and spent the next decade overseeing a franchise that repeatedly cycled between contention and rebuilding.
“It was truly an honor to spend the last 27 years with the A’s, especially the last 11 as the GM,” Forst said. “This organization is full of incredibly talented, devoted and good people and I am lucky to have worked alongside them for so long.”
The Athletics reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, winning the American League West during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. That stretch was followed by another teardown that included trades involving Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Murphy, Chris Bassitt and others.
This season has brought another step backward. The Athletics entered Friday 45-70 and on pace for a fifth straight losing season despite the emergence of young players such as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler.
“David has been an integral part of the A’s and our success for nearly three decades,” owner John Fisher said. “His leadership, dedication and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization.”
Forst’s departure comes during a transitional period for the franchise, which is playing in Sacramento while preparing for its planned move to Las Vegas in two years.
Manager Mark Kotsay informed players of the decision during a team meeting before Friday’s game at Boston.
