OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Longtime executive Billy Beane is stepping away from the day-to-day operations of the Oakland Athletics to become the senior advisor to owner John Fisher.

David Forst will lead baseball operations, maintaining his title of general manager.

"This is really as much as me taking on a new role but also David taking on a responsibility that he's earned as one of the probably top executives in the game, truly, in my opinion," Beane said Friday on a conference call. "The great thing is, as I've said in the past, I'm still a member of the Athletics family. I'm very grateful to John and the relationship that we've forged over the time since he's taken over ownership."