In one of the most unusual contract moves ever, Macha's pact expired on October 8, 2005 and negotiations broke down between the two sides trying to reach a deal; eventually it broke apart and Macha was out of a job. Six days later—apparently after talking with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but either not being offered the managerial position there or deciding not to take it—Macha reached a deal with the Athletics and became manager once again. He would lead them to a division title and a sweep over the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS to advance to the American League Championship Series, which was the team's first playoff series victory since 1990. However, the Athletics would be swept by the Detroit Tigers. On October 16, 2006, he was fired by general manager Billy Beane, which occurred the same day that a report came out by ESPN that cited Macha having a tenuous relationship with the players, particularly with injured players (he referred to two places on the disabled list as "non-entities"). The Athletics would not win another playoff series until 2020.