ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mark Kotsay’s focus is on the Oakland Athletics this season, not the team’s long-term home base.
“I am in charge of this team and I am not in control of those decisions,” he said Friday, two days after the franchise reported that it had acquired land in Las Vegas with the intention of building a ball park there for the season. 2027. “I’m focused on making this team better, helping young players mature and winning as many games as possible.”
Kotsay played for Oakland from 2004-07, coached from 2016-21 under Bob Melvin and was promoted to manager heading into the 2022 season.
Before facing Texas on Friday night, his team was 3-16. The A’s had the lowest opening day payroll at $57.8 million and their average attendance of 11,027 in 12 home games is the lowest in the majors and less than half the league average of nearly 27,600.
Team president Dave Kaval said “we are turning our full attention to Las Vegas.” The Coliseum’s lease ends after the 2024 season and a new agreement is pending to finance the construction of a new stadium.
“I feel for the fans,” Kotsay acknowledged. “Not just the fans, but also the employees who have been with the organization, probably the majority, longer than me. Because one of the things about this organization is the continuity and loyalty that they have shown to their employees.”
Kotsay acknowledged that he learned about the land purchase through a text message from general manager David Forst during the flight to Texas.
Catcher Shea Langeliers, one of many A’s players who has been with the team less than two seasons, echoed Kotsay’s sentiments.
“It’s not something that’s really in our control,” Langeliers said. “Whether they think it’s good news or bad news, whatever the case, we’re just going to come out and play.”
The A’s could be the first four-city-based major league team. They started in Philadelphia from 1901-54, played in Kansas City from 1955-67 and have been at the Oakland Coliseum since 1968.
