OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 20: Mark Kotsay of the Oakland Athletics selects his bat during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California on June 20, 2007. The Reds defeated the Athletics 3-1. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Gritty outfielder Mark Kotsay had a 17-year career that ended after 2013, with four of them coming as a member of the Oakland Athletics.
With the A's looking for some changes in order to bounce back from a dismal 68-94 season in 2015, they recently obtained permission to interview Kotsay for a potential role as Bob Melvin's bench coach. It's expected that they will interview Kotsay sometime this week.
Having retired after the 2013 season with the San Diego Padres, Kotsay held a role as a special assistant with the club in 2014 and was the Padres' hitting instructor in 2015.
Former Athletic Mike Aldrete acted as Oakland's bench coach in 2015, but CSN Bay Area's Joe Stiglich noted that if Kotsay joined the staff, Aldrete would most likely shift to a different role in the organization.
In recent months, the A's cut ties with first base coach Tye Waller and third base coach Mike Gallego (in favor of Ron Washington, who moved back over to his familiar role at third base).
In 472 games with the A's in 2004-2007, Kotsay hit .282/.336/.410 and was a key contributor in the club's 2006 season that ended with an ALCS loss to the Detroit Tigers. For his career, Kotsay posted a .276/.332/.404 line with 127 home runs and a cumulative WAR of 21.5.
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