A’s manager Bob Melvin signed an extension on Thursday, expanding his contract through the 2019 season, and that sounds about right. He loves the organization and its players, but he has seen too much over the years to commit himself long-term.
These are pretty good times for the A’s. They’ve settled on a ballpark site, although there’s a long list of complications that could skewer the deal. They have a sterling assemblage of young players with a future, including Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Ryon Healy, Franklin Barreto and Chad Pinder. And Melvin, always doing the best with what he has, is regarded near the top on any list of the best managers in the game.