Sam Fuld Declines Offer to Become Athletics President of Baseball Operations

Sam Fuld has withdrawn from consideration for the Athletics' top baseball operations role and will remain the president of business operations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sam Fuld declined an offer to become the Athletics' president of baseball operations and has withdrawn his name from consideration, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Fuld, who previously served as the general manager in Philadelphia, will maintain his current position as the Phillies' president of business operations.

With Fuld out of the running, Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith remains a primary candidate to lead the A's front office. Another finalist, Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio, is now expected to stay with St. Louis. The vacancy follows the August firing of general manager David Forst, after which Dan Feinstein took over as interim GM for the remainder of the schedule.

The Athletics finished the 2026 season with a 64-98 record, outperforming only the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels. The franchise, which has not reached the postseason since 2020, is currently playing in Sacramento and is slated to relocate to Las Vegas following the 2027 campaign.