Chapter 25
Covert Operation
It's been the winter of discontent in Oakland. The city is about to lose its beloved Raiders to Los Angeles, and the A's to San Jose, by way of San Francisco. To top it off, the few die-hard fans in the East Bay who have decided to stay on board have seen their team's roster gutted first by the Giants, and most recently a controversial trade of Yoenis Cespedes and Matt Wieters to Tampa Bay.
Yes, the same team they lost to in the AL Wild Card.
None of this bothers David Forst. The A's general manager claims he has a plan that will win back the fans, and more importantly win games.
I am finally about to get a glimpse of "the plan" when I'm invited for a very suspicious midnight drive by Billy Beane. David is driving Billy's black luxury SUV. Destination? Unknown.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, having him come along for this?" David asks Billy, our SUV cruising south on Highway 880 at well over 90 miles an hour.
"Oh, we can trust him," Billy says, looking out the passenger window as exits for Fremont whoosh by in a blur. "Can't we, Michael?"
Where are we going? What are we doing? I have no idea. All I know is, they're going to have to toss me out the door for me to miss whatever
this is.
"He doesn't even know what this is about," David says with a chuckle. "I mean, it's only the future of the franchise, right?"
It's meant as a joke, but no one is laughing.
We arrive at San Jose International Airport just after 12:00 am. Our SUV is ushered to a private portion of the airfield. They've been expecting us. Just as we pull up, so does an airplane. Not just any airplane.
It's Larry Ellison's $41 million Gulfstream V.
The billionaire playboy struts off his plane -- the plane he flew, by the way -- as he meets Billy and David on the private airstrip.
"Safe flight?" Billy asks his fellow co-owner.
"You know what they say, any landing you can walk away from..." Larry remarks as he catches me staring, my jaw practically hitting the tarmac as I see a strapping young man follow him down the staircase from the Gulfstream.
Justin Upton, the most coveted free agent of Winter 2015, has just landed in San Jose. Alongside him is his newly-hired agent, rap mogul Jay-Z.
In what can only be described as a surreal scene, Billy chauffeurs Justin around in Larry's McLaren F1. The world's fifth-richest man is following in tow, driving the SUV with Jay-Z riding shotgun. Me and David are in the backseat. Larry had his time with Justin on the flight to San Jose. Now it's Billy's time for a one-on-one with the free agent.
Justin is ushered on a quick tour of San Jose, before we arrive in downtown, near the Sharks' SAP Center. It is here where Justin is told the A's new stadium will be built, in time for the 2019 season.
"There's going to be a nice little porch for you in left field," Billy says to Justin, pointing to the vacant lot. "It's not going to be the Coliseum. You're going to be hitting lots of homeruns in this ballpark. Hopefully for us."
The late night tour ends with a drive north on a foggy Highway 101. Our final destination is Larry Ellison's home in Woodside, about 30 minutes away from downtown San Jose.
Not to name drop, but this isn't my first visit to a celebrity's home. "Moneyball" gave me the opportunity to meet some interesting celebrities with even more interesting homes. But nothing -- and I mean nothing -- compares to what I'm about to see.
I swear, harps were playing and angels were singing as the wrought iron gates opened for our little caravan. Before us stood a 23-acre compound, in an imperial Japanese palace motif. I swear, you can't make this stuff up. But this story isn't about Larry's home (or is it?), it's about Justin Upton.
Even Justin can't hide his awe-struck expression. If the mission was to amaze, mission accomplished.
"Come on inside and let's talk," Larry tells Justin and Jay-Z.
Over the course of the next hour, Billy lays it out for Justin. He tells him how there are big plans for the A's in San Jose, and how Justin will be the centerpiece. The A's are ready to make the jump from competitive small market team, to dynasty big market club.
David takes the handoff from Billy, explaining how Justin will be sandwiched between #2 hitter Travis d'Arnaud's .305 average and 30 homeruns, and cleanup man Mike Moustakas and his .331 clip. He will rove the outfield in left alongside veteran Michael Saunders in center, and rifle-armed Josh Reddick out in right.
Terms of the deal are loosely discussed. The deal will be front-loaded in the first year, to capitalize on the A's relatively low payroll for 2016. The middle of the contract will be leaner in money, with more money in the back-end when the A's move to San Jose.
"Where do I sign?" Justin asks with a sly smile.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Talks draw out from November into late December. The Yankees, White Sox, and even the Royals are all pursuing Justin, hot and heavy. But the A's have been the silent ones in the negotiations. And on December 28th, Justin Upton signs with the team no one ever would have thought had a chance. The A's have long been a team that loses free agents and mega-watt talents... Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Johnny Damon, Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Yoenis Cespedes.
But this time, the A's finally got their man. Justin Upton is an Athletic.