Kotsay, Melvin react to news that the Oakland A’s will play in Sacramento

Apr 5, 2024, 2:15 PM | Updated: 2:16 pm

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 23: Manager Bob Melvin #6 and Bench Coach Mark Kotsay #7 of the Oakland Athletics stand in the dugout during the game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on April 23, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 11-1. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)

BY JOSEPH JAROSZ

Former Editor

It’s been 24 hours since the Oakland A’s announced they’ll temporarily relocate to Sacramento until their ballpark in Las Vegas is built.

With neither team playing on Thursday, both Bay Area managers shared their thoughts Friday about what this means for Bay Area baseball.

Ahead of the Athletics’ three-game series in Detroit, manager Mark Kotsay spoke to Martín Gallegos, Oakland A’s beat reporter for MLB.com, about the Oakland A’s decision to play professional baseball in Sacramento from 2025 to 2027.

While the decision brings stability, Kotsay is aware of the history between the team and Oakland.

“The history that we’ve had in Oakland, there’s a lot of emotion. Not just for players, coaching staff and front office, but members behind the scenes that are impacted. It’s going to take some time to process. End of the day, we know where we’re going to be the next few seasons, and that gives a little bit of stability. At the same time, in the present, it’s challenging in certain ways to think about the finality of this organization in Oakland.”

Mark Kotsay told Gallegos

Kotsay is in his third season as the team’s manager. He also served as the team’s bench coach from 2016-17, quality control coach from 2018-20 and third base coach in 2021.

But he doesn’t just have managerial experience in The Town. As a player, Mark Kotsay was traded to Oakland ahead of the 2004 season. In four years with the A’s, he was a .282 hitter with a .336 OBP.

Mark Kotsay on A's move to Sacramento: “The history that we’ve had in Oakland, there’s a lot of emotion. Not just for players, coaching staff and front office, but members behind the scenes that are impacted. It’s going to take some time to process..

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 5, 2024

Kotsay wasn’t the only Bay Area manager with ties to Oakland who was asked about the decision.

Ahead of San Francisco’s home opener, new Giants manager and former Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin told reporters he’s sad to see the team move to Sacramento.

“It’s too bad. You’d like to see them finish up in the Coliseum, but at least they’re within fairly close proximity where the A’s fans can still drive and watch them, but it seems like it’s gotten pretty dramatic here recently,” Melvin said, adding he hopes A’s fans “really experience” the Coliseum before the team leaves.

"It's sad. I really enjoyed the Coliseum."

Bob Melvin on the A's playing their final season in Oakland pic.twitter.com/gyGoZzK6q4

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 5, 2024

A Palo Alto native who attended high school and college (Berkeley) in the Bay Area, Melvin spent 10 seasons as the manager of the Oakland Athletics before taking a job with San Diego in 2022. After taking over for Bob Geren in the middle of the 2011 season, Melvin posted an 853-764 (.528) record for Oakland over 1,617 games from 2011 through 2021.

The A’s secured three American League West championships (2012, 2013, 2020) and qualified for the postseason six times over Melvin’s 11 seasons as manager.