The Athletics may be sliding in the standings, but David Forst isn’t sounding like a general manager ready to tear the roster apart.
That’s the clearest takeaway as the trade deadline approaches and Oakland’s place in the American League picture keeps getting dimmer. The A’s are 45-63, sitting fourth in the American League West, 9.5 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers and 10 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Only the Los Angeles Angels have a worse record in the American League.
Even with that reality staring them in the face, the Athletics do not appear headed for a classic deadline sell-off. Instead of dangling core pieces for prospects, Forst seems far more interested in keeping together the young group the organization has already assembled.
“We’ve built this team for the long haul,” Forst said, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. “I’m not looking to break the team up.
Just because we’re not in a playoff race doesn’t mean you’re selling off pieces. I don’t feel compelled to make a trade just because the deadline is Monday.”
That stance lines up with the talent currently in the clubhouse. The Athletics have catcher Shea Langeliers, first baseman Nick Kurtz, outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, center fielder Henry Bolte, right fielder Lawrence Butler, designated hitter Brent Rooker and shortstop Jacob Wilson among the players they’d likely prefer to keep around.
Forst’s message is pretty direct: the deadline doesn’t automatically mean the roster gets stripped down. The A’s may be out of the race right now, but the front office is looking at the bigger picture.
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Thomas has spent most of this season in Triple-A Gwinnett, where he has turned in a solid 1.98 ERA over 27.1 innings, but his major league track record has been far less encouraging. Oakland is still sorting through its bullpen options and could have more moving parts ahead, with other left-handers potentially factoring into the deadline picture as the club tries to settle on the right mix for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]