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Taylor Smith is well-versed in analytics, having worked with the data-driven Tampa Bay Rays, but for fans, the number that immediately comes to mind is not a launch angle or spin rate—it's 31, his age. Smith is now the youngest person to hold the title of President of Baseball Operations (PBO) in the industry, and by a considerable margin.
Does 31 signify being too inexperienced, or does it represent fresh thinking and a lack of entrenched habits? It could be a bit of both, or neither. It's important to remember that chronological age is just one measure and doesn't account for years of experience. Smith's background tells a different story: he spent seven seasons with the Rays and two more with the Red Sox, totaling nine years in major league front offices.
Consider this: a team could hire a 53-year-old PBO who has only been in a big league front office for two seasons. Would that be preferable? More life experience, but less MLB experience. The comparison highlights that age alone is not a definitive indicator of effectiveness.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Smith was hired solely as PBO, not as general manager or with a combined title. This leaves open the possibility that the Athletics will hire a GM separately, who would presumably work under Smith—an unorthodox arrangement given Smith's age. Does Smith's age matter to you? If so, is it a positive or negative? Or do his nine years of experience carry more weight, and if so, is that experience sufficient for a PBO role with no intermediate step? And since he's the PBO hire, would you prefer he also serve as GM, or do you want a different hire? James Click is an interesting name to consider: he and Smith overlapped in Tampa Bay, with Smith there from 2018 to 2024 and Click with the Rays for 15 years until 2020. Perhaps they saw eye to eye, have mutual respect, and a desire to work together. Click also has previous GM experience and is 48, which would make having the much younger and less experienced Smith as his boss interesting—but not impossible.
Key Analysis
Smith's hiring challenges conventional wisdom about age and experience in baseball operations. While his youth may raise eyebrows, his nine years in analytically inclined front offices suggest he is well-prepared for the role. The decision to hire him as PBO without a GM title indicates a potential restructuring of the Athletics' baseball operations, with the possibility of adding a seasoned GM like James Click to support him. Ultimately, the success of this move will depend on how Smith leverages his experience and whether the organization can build a cohesive leadership team.
Originally reported by yahoo.