Mike Rizzo

Billy Owens, who has been with the A's since '99.

Mike Rizzo, who ran the Nationals when they won the World Series in 2019.

James Click, who won the title as the Astros GM in 2022.

You got two Red Sox assistant GMs, Mike Groatman and Taylor Smith.

I just don't think the process will pick him.

I give him a 12% chance.

How about Mike Rizzo? Mike Rizzo, scout for the White Sox, Red Sox, D-Backs, scouting director in Arizona from 2000 to 2006, assistant GM for the Nationals '07, GM in '09, and later top baseball executive until the National fired him in 2025.

Rizzo's a scout, a real one.

You guys might already know who the next GM is, and I figure analysis on that will be more appropriate when that next GM is announced, right? But some of the candidates so far, um, James Click has been on the radar for a long time.

They've interviewed Mike Rizzo, Billy Owens, um, who's been in the A's organization for a long time.

More recently, the assistant general manager for the Cubs, the assistant general manager for the Brewers, and Sam Fuld, who I think is, his title is like President of Business Operations for the Phillies.

They've all been interviewed.

But regardless of how successful you are in any sport, in any business, there is a need to adapt, there is a need for change at some point, and I think that's, this is the perfect opportunity for the A's to make that change.

So I want someone outside the organization.

I don't want a guy like Mike Rizzo.

I would err on the side of someone young that can grow into the role rather than someone with experience that maybe is a little bit behind the curve.

So I wouldn't leave it past John Fisher to hire someone like a Billy Owens.

Next on this list is Mike Rizzo.

He headed the Nationals front office from 2009 to 2025.

He helped build a homegrown crop of stars that led Washington to five playoff appearances during his tenure, including a World Series championship in 2019.

The Baby Shark run.

Having also spent over a decade in scouting roles with the White Sox, Red Sox, and D-backs, Rizzo brings a wealth of experience as one of the more high-profile names in the search, something that could be high atop the list of desired qualifications for the A's brass as they prepare to open up a new chapter in Las Vegas in 2028.

Mike Rizzo would be a great candidate.

And, you know, I would not be mad if they hired Mike Rizzo.

They got rid of Davey Martinez.

They got rid of Mike Rizzo.

They got rid of some other top execs for the organization, and over the off-season they replaced everyone.

And I think there was a level of optimism at the beginning of the season that I don't think Nats fans had really felt in a while, other than the one-off, you know, really good game that we had or sweeping a series or just absolutely crushing one game against a huge rival or something like that.

I think you could almost-

Yeah

... say we've closed the entire book on the Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez era of Nationals baseball, and we are-

Right

I'm not going to tell you who told me, but someone told me, a good source, said that their communication was just better with you guys.

And we were big Mike Rizzo fans.

That's our boy.

I talk to Rizzo all the time on text.