The Athletics’ trade-deadline picture has changed fast, and not in a way that helps them. A club that was sitting atop the American League West not long ago is now 20 games below .500, battered by injuries and dragged down by a pitching staff that has fallen apart for a second straight year.
That slide has left the A’s with very little to shop. Last season, they were able to cash in Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres for multiple highly regarded minor league prospects. This time around, the market looks much thinner.
Shea Langeliers was the one player who might have filled that same kind of role for the A’s, but his likely season-ending knee injury removes him from consideration. The same goes for Brent Rooker, who is out after season-ending knee surgery.
Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson also appear unlikely to be moved after both were signed to contract extensions this past offseason. Lawrence Butler is another name who does not seem likely to generate much interest from contenders after his performance has dipped.
That leaves the Athletics looking at smaller moves before the Aug. 3 deadline. Jonah Heim could be available as a backup catcher, while Jose Suarez and Elvis Alvarado are among the bullpen arms who could be dealt.
There is also the possibility of the A’s packaging struggling major leaguers like Colby Thomas or Max Muncy with minor leaguers in order to land controllable pitching. Neither player has taken advantage of extended big-league opportunities, and both still have clear flaws in their games.
The one area where the A’s need to be careful is their prospect pool. They should not be emptying it out for short-term help, especially with the organization still projecting to be competitive by the time it moves to Las Vegas in 2028. Still, names such as Tommy White and Kade Morris could attract interest without stripping the system bare.
All of that comes against the backdrop of a team that at least stopped the bleeding Tuesday night, snapping a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. The two clubs finish off their four-game series tonight and tomorrow.
So the deadline question for the A’s is pretty simple: with the roster in this state, do they make only modest moves and protect the future, or try to squeeze a little more value out of the pieces they still have?
In Other News...
A Familiar A's Name Is Back And Fans Will Feel It
The Athletics have added a familiar name to the organization, signing Max McGwire to a minor league contract and sending him to the Arizona Complex League Athletics. A right-handed pitcher and first baseman out of Saint Louis University, McGwire arrives with the kind of developmental profile that often draws a club in at this level, especially when there is still room to explore what he can become at the plate.
The timing gives the move a little extra weight, coming on the 29th anniversary of Mark McGwires trade from Oakland to the Cardinals. For As fans, that kind of connection is hard to miss, and it adds another layer to a signing that is about more than just filling out a roster. The organization will now see whether Max can carve out his own path while working in the same system that helped make his last name part of franchise history. [Read more 🡒]
A's Deadline Approach Just Sent A Frustrating Message To Fans
With the Athletics well out of playoff contention and sitting fourth in the AL West, the deadline conversation in Oakland has shifted from buying to what kind of selling, if any, makes sense. General manager David Forst made it clear the club is looking at the bigger picture, signaling that the front office wants to keep building around its young talent instead of treating the roster like a short-term asset dump.
That stance matters because the As have several players they view as part of the next core, and those names are exactly the sort of pieces that usually draw interest when a team is buried in the standings. For fans hoping for a more aggressive reset, the message is frustratingly familiar: the organization is talking about patience and continuity, even as the deadline offers a chance to reshape the roster in a more dramatic way. [Read more 🡒]
As Bullpen Just Got A Lefty Twist Fans Need To Watch
The Athletics added another left-handed arm to the mix this week, bringing in Connor Thomas while also clearing a spot on the 40-man roster by moving Mark Leiter Jr. to the 60-day injured list. It is the kind of late-July bullpen shuffle that can look minor on the surface but often says plenty about where a team thinks it needs help, especially with the trade deadline looming and left-handed relief still very much on the radar.
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 🡒]