Is Billy Beane Still the General Manager of the Oakland A's in 2024?

By Oliver Wiener March 27, 2024 13:37

Photo by Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group

Longtime Oakland Athletics executive Billy Beane was a central figure in the baseball world for more than three decades. But Beane is no longer the General Manager of the baseball team Oakland A's as of 2024.

The longtime baseball executive moved to a new spot serving as senior advisor for the Oakland A's and managing partner John Fisher after being replaced in his role of former Executive Vice President.

Billy Beane Makes His Move

The Oakland A's announced that Billy Beane, who had been executive vice president of baseball operations, was moving into a new position as senior advisor to managing owner John Fisher.

The move signaled a step back in day to day baseball decision-making for Billy Beane within the organization. In addition, it enabled general manager David Forst who'd been in that role since 2015 on a blended basis with Beane -- to step into the head of baseball operations position.

Contributions and Legacy of Billy Beane

The legacy Billy Beane leaves behind in Oakland and the baseball world at large is a vast one. His innovative use of data and analytics to drive on-field performance sparked a trend that now pervades throughout the league in player evaluation and roster management.

Beane is best known for the "Moneyball" book authored by Michael Lewis in 2003 that brought him national attention and said he was able to build winning squads despite limited payroll with innovative tactics.

Also, the fact that Moneyball was kind of turned into a motion picture, with unknown actor Brad Pitt starring as Billy Beane.

Non-Baseball Sports Pursuit

Beane said following his shift into a senior advisor position that he would examine other interests in the world of sports outside baseball.
Crucially, he has previously been part of ownership interests in European football clubs and an Indian Premier League Franchise. The change also plays to Beane's geekier passions in other sports, as it could afford him more opportunities to branch out into wildly various athletic endeavors outside of baseball.

Billy Beane's Transition

With a member of an elite group like the A's moving o "senior advisor" status, Beane's shift from GM represents something truly ground-shaking for baseball in general. Although not officially a GM he has his fingerprints all over the long-term direction of their moves because it's how it works when you are hired and fired by John Mara.
Moreover, Beane's forays into non-baseball sports give his career a unique twist that shows just how multifaceted the man himself is when it comes to businesses and enterprises beyond baseball.

Briefly,

Billy Beane has moved on from being the General Manager of the Oakland A's to serve as senior advisor to the managing owner.

His move is part of a shifting strategy from the business side, as well as an exercise in giving him some experience with non-baseball sports.
With the 2024 MLB season fast approaching, A's fans can only hope and pray that Beane's move to team senior advisor pays off in time for the campaign.