OAKLAND, Calif. — Ken Macha was fired as manager of the Oakland Athletics on Monday, two days after the AL West champions were swept out of the playoffs by Detroit.
Macha had two years left on his contract. The A's went 368-280 in his four seasons as manager, but have frustrated management and their fans by failing to get into the World Series.
Oakland won the West with a 93-69 record this year. After sweeping Minnesota in three games in the first round of the playoffs, the A's were eliminated by the Tigers in four straight in the AL championship series.
"Not to fault either side, but I felt a disconnect on a lot of levels," general manager Billy Beane said. "Once again, it's not to point the finger at Ken or anything like that. But that disconnect was there and it was something we needed to address as soon as possible."
The A's became the sixth major league team to let its manager go since the final days of the season. Dusty Baker (Chicago Cubs), Joe Girardi (Florida), Felipe Alou (San Francisco), Frank Robinson (Washington) and Buck Showalter (Texas) are not coming back next year.
Macha went through a topsy-turvy October last year, too, during which he briefly was out as manager.
Right after missing the postseason for a second straight season in 2005, the A's failed to reach agreement with Macha on a new deal. The Athletics cut ties with him and Beane announced there would be no further negotiations.
At the time, Macha called it one of the "massive disappointments" during his seven years in the organization. The A's interviewed other candidates for the job and Macha talked to Pittsburgh about its managerial vacancy.
But about a week after being let go, the A's rehired Macha and gave him a three-year contract.
Macha joined the A's as their bench coach in 1999. He became their manager in 2003 and led them to the AL West title in his first year, and followed that with a pair of second-place finishes before winning the division again this season.
URIBE SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING: Dominican authorities were seeking Juan Uribe after issuing an arrest warrant Monday for the Chicago White Sox shortstop in connection with the shooting of two men.
Uribe and a bodyguard are suspected of shooting and wounding a Dominican farmer and a captain in the Italian Navy with a pistol and a shotgun when the pair walked too close to Uribe's jeep around midnight Friday, authorities said.
GIANTS TRAINER STEPS DOWN: San Francisco Giants trainer Stan Conte has stepped down after 15 seasons with the team's medical department.
The team announced Monday that Conte wouldn't return, though he met with general manager Brian Sabean about a week ago. Dave Groeschner has been promoted to take Conte's place after 10 years in the organization.
FASANO, GREEN CHOOSE FREE AGENCY: Yankees catcher Sal Fasano and infielder Nick Green opted for free agency Monday while infielder Andy Cannizaro was sent to Triple-A Scranton.
The 35-year-old Fasano was traded from Philadelphia to New York for a minor leaguer on July 25. Fasano hit .217 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 78 games overall, and made 16 starts for the Yankees.
Fasano made 16 starts for the Yankees, often as the personal catcher for Cory Lidle. Both players were acquired in midseason from the Phillies.
RED SOX HIRE FARRELL: The Boston Red Sox hired John Farrell as their pitching coach Monday after a disappointing season in which the team finished third in the AL East.
Since 2001, Farrell has overseen the Cleveland Indians' player development system, including its six minor league affiliates and Latin American programs.
Farrell had a 36-46 record with a 4.56 ERA in 116 games as a right-handed pitcher between 1987-1996 with the Indians, Angels and Tigers. He missed two full seasons with right elbow problems.