Athletics Hire Bill Schmidt as Scouting Assistant Amid Vegas Move

URGENT UPDATE: The Oakland Athletics have just announced the hiring of former Colorado Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt as the club’s special assistant to the scouting department. This pivotal move comes as the A’s prepare for their upcoming transition to Las Vegas, where a new stadium is under construction.

Schmidt, who served as the Rockies’ senior vice president and general manager for four seasons starting in October 2021, brings extensive experience to the Athletics. He joined the Rockies in 1999, serving as vice president of scouting from 2007 onward. His impressive background includes roles as a national crosschecker with the Cleveland Indians from 1995 to 1999 and as a regional supervisor for the New York Yankees from 1988 to 1995.

The Athletics, who relocated to West Sacramento, California, last year, are currently playing their first of three planned seasons in the city’s Triple-A ballpark. Club officials are closely monitoring the construction of their new $2 billion, 33,000-capacity stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, which is on track to open in time for the 2028 season.

Schmidt’s credentials are formidable; he was named the 2019 West Coast Scout of the Year and received the prestigious Legends in Scouting Award. His hiring underscores the Athletics’ commitment to enhancing their scouting efforts as they transition into a new era in Las Vegas.

As the team gears up for this significant change, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely. The hiring of a seasoned scout like Schmidt is expected to have a substantial impact on the club’s future talent acquisition and overall strategy.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Athletics continue to make headlines in this exciting new chapter.