A’s Castro, Smith get to work and want results, not age to be focus

Athletics president of baseball operations Tyler Smith, 31, and general manager Cam Castro, 36, addressed the attention surrounding their ages during MLB's general manager meetings in Las Vegas this week. Smith is the league's youngest head of baseball operations, while Castro is one of the youngest general managers. Smith said he would prefer the focus remain on their track records rather than age. "I think it's more about the ideas, the vision and the ability to execute rather than age," Smith told the Review-Journal. Castro joked that his bald head makes him feel older. "I think when I started shaving my head, I stopped feeling young," he said with a laugh.

The two executives spent the meetings exploring ways to improve the roster for both the short and long term. "I think we're exploring any and all ways to improve the team, both in the short term and the long term," Smith said. "It could be pitching, it could be position players, really a few different avenues for how the team could get better."

A key priority before the team's planned 2028 relocation to Las Vegas is signing first baseman Nick Kurtz to a long-term extension. Kurtz, the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year and an All-Star this past season, reportedly rejected an extension offer worth between $110 million and $130 million earlier this year. Castro said he has followed Kurtz closely, dating back to his amateur career at Wake Forest. "Man, he's an unbelievable player... I'm looking forward to getting to know the person, frankly, and getting up close and personal," Castro said.

Castro also highlighted the organizational advantage of the upcoming Las Vegas move, which will place the major league ballpark on the south Strip roughly 20 minutes from the Triple-A Aviators' home at Downtown Summerlin. He noted the proximity allows staff to attend games at both levels in the same day. "It's such an advantage for our people, our players and the people who are going to rove the minor league system and still be able to feel connected to the big league team," Castro said. "All of that is so important to culture."

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal