OAKLAND http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics believe they have stability in their leadership structure to keep a good thing going and build momentum from their 2018 playoff return.Manager Bob Melvin has been rewarded for guiding another turnaround, receiving a long-term contract extension. The A’s also reached new deals with executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane and general manager David Forst.The extensions for all three were announced Monday by the small-budget franchise. Under Melvin’s guidance, a young, slugging Oakland club went 97-65 and lost the wild-card game 7-2 to the New York Yankees.“From the moment I got here it’s been a special place for me for a lot of the reasons I’ve already talked about in the past,” Melvin said. “It just seems like every year it gets more and more comfortable for me being at home, the people that you work for, the continuity in the organization.”With majors’ home run leader Khris Davis leading the way, the A’s reached the postseason for the first time since 2014 following last-place finishes in the AL West each of the previous three years. They trailed the Mariners by 11 games in the wild-card race on June 15 before a strong second half — not to mention all the comeback wins and walkoffs — pushed them into the playoffs.Last year, Melvin received a contract through the 2019 season. Melvin’s new contract is through 2021 with a club option for 2022, Beane said. Forst’s deal goes through 2023.“There are some things we don’t have, which are obvious, and there are some things we do have: We have stability and we have loyalty,” Beane said. “It goes back a long way. Listen, we have our challenges but we all love working here, we love working with each other.”The surprising A’s caught the country’s attention. They went 63-29 from June 16 through the rest of the season for the fourth-best record in baseball. Yet it was the top mark in the majors during that stretch — ahead of World Series champion Boston’s 60-31. Oakland also went a majors-best 31-14 in one-run games and had 10 walkoff victories.With his starting staff slim late in the season, Melvin turned to using an “opener” for an inning before going with another pitcher as a long man Miguel Gonzalez Jersey , and most everything he tried worked out well in 2018.“I’ve always felt like one of Bob’s biggest strengths is his flexibility, his ability to adjust to the roster that we hand him,” Forst said.The 57-year-old Melvin, who joined Oakland in 2011, improved his managerial record with the A’s to 634-599 (.514). His wins are third-most in franchise history behind Connie Mack (3,582) and Tony La Russa (798).Oakland won 20 more games this season, the third time a team managed by Melvin has improved by 20 wins from the previous year.“It’s a driven group that expected to win and expected to get better as the season went along and that’s how it played out,” Melvin said.Forst will begin his 20th season with the A’s and fourth as GM. He was promoted to GM on Oct. 5, 2015, when Beane assumed his current position. Beane wouldn’t say how long his contract runs aside from the fact, “I anticipate having a long-term relationship and that was secured during this negotiation.”The A’s believed from the start of the 2018 season that they had a contending club, even with an opening-day payroll of $66,039,675 that ranked lowest in the American League and second-lowest in baseball ahead of the Phillies. Beane envisions an increase in payroll this coming season and in the following years. He also expects to look outside the organization this offseason to find a starting pitcher.Davis led the majors with 48 home runs, his third straight 40-homer season.“I’m proud of the tremendous success of our team under the leadership of Billy, David and Bob and am excited to have that continue for years to come Tim Anderson Jersey ,” A’s managing general partner John Fisher said. The biggest mystery in Major League Baseball ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is the status of Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer.The interest around the 29-year-old is intensifying by the hour, but there's no guarantee a deal will get done due to Tampa Bay's high asking price.Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets could be in a similar situation as Tuesday's deadline approaches, as the National League East bottom feeders attempt to get as much as they can in exchange for the 28-year-old.In addition to Archer and Wheeler, there are a handful of relief pitchers still on the market who could help contending teams, while most of the marquee position players on the trade market have been dealt.Below is a look at the latest buzz surrounding Archer, Wheeler and others. Handful Of Teams Chasing Archer Despite UncertaintyThe teams interested in Archer are taking quite the gamble as the time to close deals dwindles.Although there's no guarantee Archer is completely available on the trade market, Atlanta, San Diego, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are showing serious interest, per Marc Topkin of theTampa Bay Times.According to Topkin, St. Louis and Pittsburgh are among a group of close to 12 teams that have expressed some type of interest in Archer, but the Braves, Padres and Yankees have the best chances to land the starting pitcher because of their deep farm systems.In preparation for a potential deal, the Rays scouted Yankees top prospect Justus Sheffield Saturday, but according to Joel Sherman of theNew York Post,they have a slim chance of bringing in another player from American League East rival:Joel Sherman Joelsherman1#Rays have 2 scouts watching Justus Sheffield tonight http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , but 1 is regular coverage. Still hearing that it is a long shot #Yankees end up with Archer. They are monitoring. But #Padres and others are pursuing in stronger way. Remains uncertain if Archer will even be moved.If the Padres were involved in a pennant race, it would make sense for them to go all in for Archer by sending some of their top prospects to the Rays.However, that isn't the case at the moment, and any potential deal between Tampa Bay and San Diego would have the Padres' long-term future in mind since Archer is under team control until 2021.The Braves and Yankees would be ideal destinations for Archer, but the Yankees might have to pay a higher price because the Rays would be dealing with a divisional foe and would still have to face Archer.If the teams in the mix for Archer aren't willing to pay a hefty price, the market could develop more in the offseason when teams with less urgency to win pop into the picture.Even though Tuesday's deadline is on the horizon, no one is quite sure of Tampa Bay's intentions, which could lead to plenty of drama as time ticks down Tuesday afternoon. Mets Setting High Price For WheelerThe Mets have been in a peculiar position over the last weeks, as they've been willing to trade some players but have been more stingy with others.Given the recent success of Wheeler, the Mets are hiking up the price, which has led to no significant offers, per Fancred's Jon Heyman:Joel Sherman Joelsherman1#Rays have 2 scouts watching Justus Sheffield tonight, but 1 is regular coverage. Still hearing that it is a long shot #Yankees end up with Archer. They are monitoring. But #Padres and others are pursuing in stronger way. Remains uncertain if Archer will even be moved.If a deal involving Wheeler occurs, it will produce a much larger haul than the recent trades of Jeurys Familia to Oakland and Asdrubal Cabrera to Philadelphia.If a team prises Wheeler away from the Big Apple, it will receive a starter coming off two of his best starts of the season.Two days before the All-Star break, Wheeler gave upfour earned runs in 7.2 innings of work against the Washington Nationals.Wheeler improved on those numbers July 24 Welington Castillo Jersey , as he tossed seven innings against the Padres in which he let up four hits and two earned runs.You can't blame the Mets for setting Wheeler's price high because of his last two starts and the demand for starters on the trade market.At this point in time, a deal doesn't look like it will get done, but a desperate contender could always come in with an offer the Mets can't refuse.Contenders Talking to Rangers About KelaTexas Rangers closer Keone Kela could be the next reliever to be dealt.The Dodgers and Braves, both of whom are in search of bullpen upgrades, are at the forefront of the discussions regarding Kela, per MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.With 24 saves in 38 appearances, a 3.44 ERA and 1.145 WHIP, Kela could produce a nice return of prospects for the Rangers while improving the late-inning pitching of the team he ends up with.Brandon Wade/Associated PressThe Dodgers made the first splash of the July trade market by bringing in Manny Machado from Baltimore, but they still need to provide Kenley Jensen with help in the latter innings of games.Kela is one of a few relievers who could be an ideal fit for the Dodgers, but in order to bring the 25-year-old over to the National League, they might have to give up more young players than they want.Atlanta isn't in desperate need of a reliever after acquiring Jonny Venters from Tampa Bay and Brad Brach from Baltimore, but you can never have too many power arms in the bullpen.How much the Braves chase after Kela could be determined by their interest in Archer and other players in positions of need.If the Braves back away in an attempt to improve another facet of their roster, the Dodgers could be in prime position to swoop up Kela.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference