Phillies Exec Sam Fuld Turns Down the A's Top Baseball Job, Leaving Red Sox Aide Taylor Smith a Leading Candidate

The Athletics' search for a new front-office boss hit a snag Saturday. Sam Fuld, the Philadelphia Phillies' president of business operations, was offered the A's job as president of baseball operations but turned it down and withdrew from consideration, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported, citing sources.

Fuld, a former big-league outfielder who previously served as the Phillies' general manager, will stay in his current role in Philadelphia, according to ESPN. Phillies Nation noted that the club's front office now appears set, with Fuld remaining alongside president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

Who is still in the running

Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith remains a top candidate to lead the A's baseball operations, ESPN reported. St. Louis Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio, another finalist, is expected to stay with the Cardinals. MLB Trade Rumors also reported Fuld's decision Saturday.

Athletics Nation, a fan site that follows the team closely, called Fuld one of the stronger candidates and said the job would have let him build out an entire front office of his own. The A's had not commented publicly on the search as of Saturday afternoon.

A team in transition

Whoever takes the job inherits a club coming off a 64-98 season. According to ESPN, the year began with high hopes but was derailed by injuries and pitching struggles, and only the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels finished with worse records in 2026. The A's fired longtime general manager David Forst in August, and Dan Feinstein served as interim GM through the end of the season. The team last reached the playoffs in 2020.

Why Oakland fans are still watching

For many Bay Area fans, the A's are a team that left. The franchise played its last game at the Oakland Coliseum in 2024 and has been playing in West Sacramento while it waits for its new ballpark in Las Vegas. ESPN reports the move to Las Vegas is scheduled for after the 2027 season, meaning the next baseball chief will spend at least one year running a team in a temporary home before the relocation.

That situation, plus the losing record, makes the opening a tough sell. A candidate turning down a president's title is unusual, and it puts more pressure on the A's to land their next choice quickly as the offseason begins.