As the Athletics prepare to play 2025 games at a temporary home in West Sacramento while awaiting a more permanent move to Las Vegas, they are working to put a more competitive product on the field after showing signs of progress. After the All-Star break in Oakland’s final season, the team had a 32-32 record. These efforts to strengthen the roster began when they signed the right-hander Luis Severino Signed a three-year contract with them and continues to sign the left-hander today jeffrey springs Five players were traded with the Rays earlier today.
The addition of Severino and Springs to the top of the A’s rotation adds some credibility to the club heading into 2025 after its starters posted a 4.76 ERA last year, last in the majors. five. Severino and Springs will serve as part of a rotation that currently also includes J.P. Sears, Mickey Spencer, and Joey Estes opening day, but the club’s general manager David Foster told reporters (including MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos ) that he “wouldn’t rule out” adding another starter to the lineup. In addition to continuing to weigh potential third rotation players, Foster also said (as relayed by Gallegos) that he intends to explore the trade and free agency markets for potential third basemen.
The A’s big additions and newfound willingness to commit to raising payroll come with concerns off the field in addition to a desire to improve the roster on the field. Reports earlier this week indicated that the Athletics were at risk of a lawsuit from the MLB Players Association if they did not allocate 150% of their revenue share to MLB payroll. The Athletics are reportedly expected to receive a revenue share of $70MM or more, meaning they would need $105MM or more in payroll to pay the luxury tax to avoid the risk of facing dissatisfaction from the players union. After today’s trade landed Springs, RosterResource projects the club’s luxury tax payroll will hit $88.5MM in 2025. Should add one or two more to the club.
In the rotation, even veterans coming out of the rotation, e.g. Andrew Heaney or Kyle Gibson (had been linked to the A’s before the Springs trade). Likely to eat most if not all of that $15MM. However, in theory at least, the club could consider spending beyond this range. Previous indications were that the club’s 2025 salary target was $100 million. Spending room versus having the A’s salary target in the $100MM range for luxury tax purposes. That makes adding a backfield starter and a sizable salary at third base feasible.
Speaking of hot topics, this location has been the focus of rumors from a number of different clubs this winter. Cubs send third baseman Isaac Paredes Just arrived at the Astros yesterday, along with Houston’s longtime third baseman Alex Bregman Still one of the most coveted players on the free agent market. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have made their trade intentions clear Nolan Arenado this winter. The Angels, Tigers, Yankees and Astros are all known to be other teams in the market for third base help, while the Red Sox and Padres remain on the fringes of the market as they have proven third basemen and There is potential for third base options like Bregman and Arenado to serve as solutions at other positions.
It’s almost impossible to imagine a top free agent like Bregman or a veteran without trade protection like Arenado choosing to sign a long-term deal in West Sacramento, but that doesn’t mean the Athletics are completely out of luck if they The hope is to add a third baseman to the roster this winter. Alec Bohm The Phillies player is one of the often-discussed trade candidates among the hot corners and is also a Diamondbacks veteran Eugenio Suarez His name is popping up in the rumor mill as another possible trade chip. at the same time, Jorge Polanco, Paul de Jongand Juan Moncada is one of the potential third base options in free agency in the lower tier, and a club with an infield surplus like the Blue Jays or Orioles could potentially develop someone like that Davis Schneider or Ramon Urias Can be obtained through trade.
