The A’s have fired first base coach Tye Waller, the first change made in response to a disappointing season that produced the American League’s worst record.
Waller confirmed that he received the news last week from manager Bob Melvin.
“He said they’re going 'cutting edge,' but I don’t know what that means,” Waller said.
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He was brought on board with the A’s in 2007, the season Bob Geren took over as manager from Ken Macha. That made Waller the longest tenured member of Oakland’s staff based on continuous service. Pitching coach Curt Young joined the club in 2004 but was gone in 2011 when he served the same role for the Red Sox for one season.
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Waller, 58, spent the majority of his time in Oakland as the first base coach and outfield instructor. He did serve two years as Geren’s bench coach from 2009-10.
Waller expressed gratitude for his time with the A’s but added of his dismissal: “There was no real definitive explanation. That’s kind of tough when you give nine years of your life” to a team.
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The A’s have yet to announce the move, and it’s unknown if other staff changes are coming. A degree of roster turnover is expected after the A’s finished 68-94 and 20 games out of first in the AL West.
Waller, whose background includes six years spent as the San Diego Padres’ farm director, said he’ll take some time to evaluate what he wants to do next.
“Baseball is a different industry,” he said. “For one thing, if they don’t want you there, you’re better off somewhere else anyway.”