This offseason, may Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay trade in his A’s cap for a San Francisco Giants one?

Kotsay isn’t opposed to it.

On a conference call with reporters on Tuesday morning, Kotsay seemed receptive to the idea, but he is currently focused on the here and now. And he is currently employed by the A’s.

He declared, “I’m definitely cemented in this organization and in my connection with general manager David Forst.” “I don’t give up easily or consider leaving at all. David and I have discussed seeing this through to the end.

Of course, chances can present themselves later on. One was brought up with the Giants (in the media). I believe that as I sit here today, my attention is on this organization.

Despite having just finished two consecutive seasons with 100 losses, Kotsay is still regarded as a respectable manager who would be better off guiding a team that has realistic championship aspirations.

Forst noted that Kotsay and his team “did an amazing job this year of looking for things to work towards and finding positives in order to keep this group moving.”

It is unlikely that Kotsay will face consequences for an extremely thin A’s team that has struggled to win, going 110-214 (.340) in his two years in charge. The squad has mostly used a crop of young players, few of whom have been regarded as top prospects, and has only used a small number of veterans.

Only one of the A’s prospects, Tyler Soderstrom (No. 34), was ranked in Baseball America’s top 100 going into the season.

“As coaches, our goal is to maintain a good attitude during this process,” Kotsay stated. “We are aware of the current situation with the roster and the young players on it. Teaching takes precedence over anything else.

After finishing 5-23 in April, Kotsay’s A’s set a new MLB record for the most losses.

The club’s 10-45 (.182) record after 55 games was the lowest of any team in the previous century.

However, Kotsay’s persistence in being upbeat and her capacity to see the bright side of even the worst circumstances offered them a glimmer of hope.

He stated, “That was the message from the start.” “April was a really tough month—possibly the hardest month of my baseball career.” As a leader and a competitor, I’m delving deep to find out how to keep this group positive and how to get better. That was to jump right in, impart as much knowledge as you could, have an optimistic attitude, and pay attention to the little things.

After making a 180-degree turn around in June, they went 40-67 (.374) the remainder of the way, more than doubling their winning percentage from the opening 55 games.

Success stories include 28-year-old journeyman Brent Rooker’s 30 home runs, Esteury Ruiz’s 67-base steal, Trevor May’s 21 saves despite his anxiety, and 23-year-old Zack Gelof’s July 14 big league debut, which was followed by an.840 OPS that put him 19th in the league.

“From five wins in April to eleven wins in September, it indicates that we maintained the proper culture, had the appropriate mindset, and kept our attention on those little victories that, at the end of the day, brought some happiness,” Kotsay remarked. “However, I would not consider this season to be successful in any way.”

Forst claimed that while the team was settling on the specifics of their 2028 transfer to Las Vegas, it wasn’t easy for everyone to watch as they finished with the most losses in the league. The proposed relocation is scheduled for a vote by MLB owners in November.

“I was there; I sat in the stands; I knew what it was like out there at times, but Mark probably downplays the impact it had on him, the coaching staff, and the players,” the general manager remarked. “For those players to be able to concentrate on what they’re doing—and they did—on the field and in the dugout,. Although everyone is aware of the events occurring in the stadium and within our organization, they do a fantastic job of keeping their attention on the game.

Will the A’s play again be the same thing next year? Before their lease expires at the end of 2024, what might be their last season at the Coliseum?

Forst asserted that things would be distinct. This offseason, he insisted, the team would be fighting for free agents.

He declared, “We won’t back down from free agency.” “We need to fill some voids, even if we have a lot of talent here.”

He would not, however, indicate if the salary would rise from Opening Day’s MLB-low $57 million.

“Those discussions are still going on,” he declared. “I don’t now know the solution. I’m sure we’ll have enough cash for free agency.

Fans of the A’s won’t be holding their breath, for sure.

Forst remarked, “I think Oakland’s supporters’ passion was fantastic and on full display this season.” “I’ve spent the last 24 seasons here. Many of my friends are also fans. I regularly connect with fans and have family in the town, so I’m quite aware of how much people care about the club and how much this year’s events have affected them. Throughout the year, they did a fantastic job of showing their passion both inside and outside the stadium.

MediaNews Group, Inc. © 2023. Go to mercurynews.com. Tribune Content Agency, LLC, is the distributor.