The Athletics’ impending move to Las Vegas appears to have cost them their top baseball executive.

The Athletics announced Friday that they and longtime general David Forst have “mutually agreed” to part ways. Forst’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the season, but the two sides have opted to end their relationship early.

"David has been an integral part of the A’s and our success for nearly three decades. His leadership, dedication, and commitment to this team have helped shape our baseball operations department and position us for the future. We are grateful for everything David has done for our organization," A’s owner John Fisher said.

Forst also commented on his exit. “It was truly an honor to spend the last 27 years with the A’s, especially the last 11 as the GM,” he said.

Re: David Forst's expiring contract, John Fisher said in June, "he and I need to sit down and work these things out." But there was already one known issue: relocation. Forst and his family are comfortable in California.

From March: https://t.co/HqhRF31W0p pic.twitter.com/DKSjsThVUC

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reports that Forst "was never planning to move to Vegas with the club, according to sources, a circumstance that played a part in both sides moving on."

Forst had been the Athletics’ general manager since 2015, when he succeeded Billy Beane in the role. He had been with the organization for 27 years, having started as a scout in 2000. The 50-year-old had largely continued his predecessor’s Moneyball philosophy, assembling solid cores of young talent but largely trading it away before the team has a chance to win with it.

The A’s are in their second of three scheduled seasons playing in Sacramento. They plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028 once their new ballpark is built there.