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Billy Beane focusing on Oakland A’s future, not rumors

By David Hill

Oct 3, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; Oakland Athletics vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane walks onto the field before the game against the New York Yankees in the 2018 American League wild card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; Oakland Athletics vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane walks onto the field before the game against the New York Yankees in the 2018 American League wild card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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One could understand if Billy Beane‘s mind was in a million different places at once. The Oakland A’s are attempting to figure out a budget, which may result in a large scale teardown of the roster. There are continued rumors about the A’s pursuit of a new stadium, either in Oakland or in Las Vegas. And, once again, Beane has been named as a potential candidate to head up a different front office, as the Mets are interested in his services.

For his part, Beane is unconcerned about those rumors. While he says it is a compliment, he is far more focused on figuring out the A’s roster for the 2022 season. He does not even know if the Mets have formally reached out for permission to speak to him yet.

Billy Beane focused on 2022 Oakland A’s

It makes sense that Beane would be looking ahead to the A’s offseason. They have ten impending free agents, including Starling Marte, Josh Harrison, and Mark Canha. All of those players have proven to be key parts of the lineup and will be difficult to replace.

Likewise, the A’s have 11 players eligible for arbitration. That group is headlined by the likes of Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt, and Frankie Montas. Chances are, the vast majority of their payroll resources will be spent in arbitration as the A’s look to keep some of these players around.

But those payroll concerns will rear their head. Beane, and the A’s front office, will need to figure out which of those players they can keep, and which need to be traded away. Given those continual payroll woes, the A’s are going to be busy.

That does not leave any time for him to sit around and wonder. As tempting as it may be to imagine what he could do with an owner who is willing to spend money and wants to win, that is not even close to being on his docket. He needs to figure out what the A’s payroll and roster will look like for 2022.

Next. Progress on the Howard Terminal front. dark

Billy Beane is not paying any attention to the rumor mill. Instead, he remains focused on attempting to figure out the Oakland A’s roster for 2022.