In an exclusive interview with Brodie Brazil, new San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin described how tough it was to leave the A’s and what the city of Oakland means to him.
Bob Melvin is eternally grateful for his time managing the Athletics, but explained his rationale behind departing for the San Diego Padres after 11 years in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil.
"I can't forecast where the A's are going to go and what they're going to do," Melvin told Brazil. "There are limitations, there has been talk about what the team needs to do, not only now but in the future, there [are] restrictions of how things can go in Oakland and then when there's a conversation and someone calls on you and you get a chance to go somewhere else and you have a conversation, sometimes things transpire."
Melvin spoke honestly about his process, but also emphasized repeatedly the love and appreciation he has for the organization, its players and coaches, and the fans of Oakland.
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"I loved every minute of managing the Oakland A's in my hometown," Melvin told Brazil. "With a coaching staff that I was with a long time, with a front office that was so inspiring for me and allowed me to manage there through thick and thin.
"I don't know why and how, I think things happen for a reason sometimes, but it doesn't diminish the fact or make me feel any different about the Oakland A's and my time there, it doesn't make me think any differently or feel any differently about ownership, ownership employed me there for 11 years, the front office stuck with me for 11 years, the fans were absolutely fantastic, the media was sensational to me my entire time there, the players that we had there, I mean everything revolves around the players, and the success that you have or you look at me and that I had, is because of the players.
"I more look at this right now as sometimes your time's up and there's times that you just end up somewhere else."
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Melvin also confirmed that he did not reach out to the Padres, but spoke first with A's executive vice president Billy Beane, who granted Melvin permission to speak with San Diego about their vacancy.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller addressed the initial conversation with Beane earlier Monday in Melvin's introductory press conference.
"When I reached out to Billy and broached the topic, the first thing he told me was, really, 'No chance, go to hell,'" Preller told reporters, smiling. "But his main thought, to me, was wanting to do what's best for Bob, which you don't hear a lot in this industry. ... A lot of credit goes to the Oakland A's."
In 11 years as the A's manager, Melvin went 853-764 (.528), qualifying for the postseason six times.
Melvin takes over a Padres team that fell well short of expectations in 2021, going 79-83 and finishing third in the highly-competitive NL West.
You can check out the full interview with Bob Melvin right here.