The Athletics parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday, ending a 27-year tenure that included three playoff berths. Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein takes over as interim GM for the remainder of the 2026 season as the franchise navigates its relocation timeline toward Las Vegas.
David Forst is officially out as the top baseball decision-maker for the Athletics, concluding a front-office career that began as a scout in 2000. While the club announced the departure in a press release as a mutual parting of ways, reporting indicates that anonymous sources familiar with the sensitive deliberations disputed that characterization and called it a firing. The front-office shakeup arrives during a dismal midseason collapse, with the team sitting at 45-70 and mired in a severe summer slump.
Front-Office Transition and the Interim Handover
Assistant general manager Dan Feinstein steps into the role immediately, taking over as interim general manager for the rest of the 2026 season. The franchise confirmed that it will launch a comprehensive search for a permanent successor to run baseball operations. Feinstein inherits a roster plagued by injuries and a grueling second-half schedule.
“David has been an integral part of the A’s and our success for nearly three decades. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization.”
John Fisher, A’s Owner and Managing Partner
Forst, who is 50 years old, climbed through the ranks after joining the organization in 2000. He became assistant general manager under Billy Beane in 2004 and officially took over the GM title after Beane was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations following the 2015 season.
A Decade as General Manager and Postseason Highs
During Forst’s 10 full seasons at the helm, the Athletics captured an AL West title once during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign and reached the postseason in three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. The team won 97 games in both 2018 and 2019, though they were unable to advance past the American League Division Series during those runs.
Yet the franchise has struggled significantly since the conclusion of the 2021 season. Following a playoff miss that year, Forst oversaw a dramatic roster teardown that shipped out marquee stars including Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Sean Manaea, Chris Bassitt, and Sean Murphy. Those trades deepened a prolonged rebuilding phase, leading to 102 losses in 2022 and an Oakland-era franchise-worst 112 defeats in 2023.
“It was truly an honor to spend the last 27 years with the A’s, especially the last 11 as the GM. This organization is full of incredibly talented, devoted, and good people, and I am lucky to have worked alongside them for so long.”
David Forst, outgoing general manager
The Long Road to Las Vegas and Roster Realities
The timing of Forst’s departure also intersects with the franchise’s turbulent geographic transition. After leaving Oakland, the team is temporarily playing its home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, sharing the venue with the Sacramento River Cats. A permanent stadium is currently under construction in Las Vegas, with the club targeting an opening day in 2028.
Reporting from ESPN indicates that Forst never intended to make the permanent relocation to Las Vegas, with family ties keeping him deeply rooted in California. That friction over the franchise’s geographic future, combined with an expiring contract and an on-field collapse that saw the team win just six games following a June trip to Las Vegas, created an untenable environment for leadership continuity.
Financial Constraints and the Next Front-Office Leader
Whoever assumes the permanent general manager role will face familiar economic hurdles paired with new roster demands. The Athletics’ payroll sits at $96.3 million, marking one of the lowest figures in Major League Baseball. While ownership has slightly increased spending in recent years to satisfy revenue-sharing requirements, competing under strict financial ceilings remains a defining challenge.
The next executive will also face critical personnel decisions regarding young offensive cornerstones like Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, alongside the ongoing task of developing a reliable pitching staff capable of thriving outside of hitter-friendly temporary ballparks. As Feinstein steers the club through the final weeks of 2026, the organization must decide how quickly it can assemble a competitive core before the Las Vegas stadium doors officially open.
