Manager Mark Kotsay helped the Athletics navigate a difficult three seasons while the franchise lost a lot of games, built a young roster and dealt with an emotional departure from Oakland.

Now he gets the chance to lead during potentially happier times.

The 49-year-old Kotsay and the Athletics announced Monday that they’ve agreed to a contract extension through the 2028 season that includes a club option for 2029.

“I’m very humbled right now,” Kotsay said. “Outside of the day I married my wife, I think this is going to go down as one of the best days of my life. The opportunity has been given to me to lead this group forward. When I started this journey in 2022, as a manager, all I wanted was the chance to keep moving this forward and see this through.”

The A’s had a 69-93 record last season, which was a 19-win improvement over a 112-loss season in 2023. The team appears to be on the rise with a young lineup that includes Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday.

The team is eyeing a return to the postseason for the first time since 2020 after having a 32-32 record following the All-Star break last year.

ANGELS’ TROUT MOVING TO RIGHT >> Los Angeles Angels oft-injured star Mike Trout is moving from center to right field in hopes of better preserving his health.

The three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star played in 82 or fewer games in three of the past four seasons while dealing with an assortment of injuries.

Trout approached the club about the position switch.

“I kind of threw everything on the table as in what’s best for me bodywise to keep me on the field,” he said Monday. “I came to the conclusion that I’m going to go to right field. I’ll try it out and see where it goes.”

Trout played just 29 games last year because of surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

He missed all but 36 games in 2021 with a strained calf, and was out for several weeks in 2022 with a back injury. Trout then broke a bone in his hand in 2023, missing all but one game after July 3.

METS’ MONTAS SHUT DOWN >> Right-hander Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million free-agent contract in December with the New York Mets, will be shut down for six to eight weeks because of a strained back.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said it was a high-grade lat strain and Montas was heading to New York for an injection. After the shutdown, Montas will need a spring training-like buildup, meaning he won’t pitch for the Mets until May at the earliest.

The injury creates uncertainty for a starting rotation that went through a makeover during the offseason.

The Mets filled holes in their rotation with free-agent deals for Montas, Sean Manaea, Griffin Canning and former All-Star closer Clay Holmes.

Montas, who was 35-30 in six seasons with the A’s (2017-22), missed most of the 2023 season because of shoulder surgery. He returned last season and went 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA while pitching for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.