It is expected that Beane (c) will remain involved with the club indefinitely GETTY IMAGES
In Oakland, Susan Slusser noted A's Exec VP/Baseball Operations Billy Beane, GM David Forst and manager Bob Melvin all "received multiyear contract extensions." Melvin’s deal is through '21 with a '22 club option, and it "will put him among the top four or five best-paid managers" in MLB at roughly $3.5M per season. Forst’s extension is for four years and "will take him" through '23. Beane’s contract length is "unknown but the expectation is that his long-term involvement will continue indefinitely, particularly considering his ownership stake in the club." Before the extensions, all three "were under contract" through '19 (SFGATE.com, 10/29).
INTO THE UNKNOWN: In N.Y., Dan Martin notes the Mets officially named CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen GM, which is a "risk for the Mets -- and the Wilpons." Former Mets GM Sandy Alderson "brought with him a history of being at the forefront of analytics." Van Wagenen’s philosophy is "yet to be determined" as he is "pretty much an unknown." There is "considerable uncertainty about how Van Wagenen will see fit to run a franchise instead of an agency" (N.Y. POST, 10/30). On Long Island, Steven Marcus notes several of Van Wagenen’s former clients are "now his employees," notably Mets Ps Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. A source said that Van Wagenen "will have to recuse himself from potential salary arbitration matters with players he represented" (NEWSDAY, 10/30).
POSITIVE START: In Toronto, Steve Simmons notes Charlie Montoya was introduced as the Blue Jays' new manager, and he "breezed through his first official day" on the job. Montoya during his introductory press conference "looked and sounded like he was in charge, came off as easy and charming and comfortable, funny and experienced, self-deprecating and emotional, and ready after all these years to become a big league manager." This is Blue Jays Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Ross Atkins' first managerial hire, marking his "first giant decision" since joining the team in '15. Yesterday he looked "more confident than usual, more comfortable in his own skin, proud of the decision his group had made and the man they were bringing in to manage." This is "big for Atkins with the team close to rock bottom, with fans wondering about the future, starting over again" (TORONTO SUN, 10/30).
