The Athletics’ recent slide has put them in a tricky spot with the trade deadline closing in. A team that not long ago looked like a possible buyer - even getting linked to Twins ace Joe Ryan and Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara - may now be better off flipping pieces that are headed for free agency after this season.
They’ve already started down that road by moving veteran starter Aaron Civale to the Cubs for a minor league arm. José Suarez could be next, and he might bring back more than Civale did.
Suarez has become one of the few dependable arms in the A’s bullpen, which makes him useful now and attractive to other clubs. Over his last 16 games, he has posted a 1.85 ERA and has handled multiple roles effectively. He has also worked as an opener a few times, giving the A’s some early outs before handing things over to an inconsistent starting rotation.
That kind of flexibility matters, and it could also raise his value in the coming days. If the A’s decide to move him, he should draw interest from contenders looking for bullpen help before the postseason. Relief pitching is always in demand at this time of year, and teams in the hunt are often willing to part with prospects to shore up that part of the roster.
The A’s picked up Suarez for cash earlier this season, and now he could be moved again, this time for a stronger return.
There’s also the simple fact that almost every contender can use a left-handed relief option like Suarez. Beyond the pitching, he’s been described as a fun presence in the clubhouse, which only adds to his appeal for a team trying to strengthen both its staff and its dugout.
With the A’s needing every arm they can get, the club may choose to shift focus toward moving offense and keeping pitching in place. Still, Suarez looks like a name that could get plenty of attention over the next week.
In Other News...
Jacob Lopez Gives Athletics Hope In Shutout Win Over Twins
Jacob Lopez kept giving the Athletics a reason to believe, working five scoreless innings in a 2-0 win over the Twins at Target Field. He allowed just one hit while navigating four walks and striking out four, and the As backed him with enough offense in the middle innings to make the early pitching effort count. Tommy White, Lawrence Butler, Donovan Walton, Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte all had a hand in the scoring, helping Oakland turn a tight game into one it could actually finish.
The Twins tried to push back, but the As kept finding the right pitch, the right play and the right defensive answer when the game started to tighten. Oakland scored in the fifth and sixth, then leaned on a mix of pitching changes and timely defense to keep Minnesota off the board, a formula that has been hard to come by at times this season. For a club still looking for signs that its young pieces can hold up in a close game, this was the kind of shutout win that at least offers a little hope. [Read more 🡒]
A's Big International Bet Is Starting To Feel Very Real
Breyson Guedez already looked like one of the Athletics most intriguing international bets when he signed for a $1.5 million bonus during the 2025 period, but the early returns in his stateside debut have only sharpened the interest. The Venezuelan outfielder has settled in with Single-A Stockton and, after a slow start, has begun to show the kind of bat-to-ball ability and impact contact that can make a young prospect stand out quickly in the California League.
Guedezs production since June has put him on the organizations radar in a much bigger way, especially for a club that is trying to build around upside wherever it can find it. The As have seen enough to believe there is real ceiling here, and his rapid rise through the summer has made the next step in his development feel a lot less theoretical than it did a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Just Turned To A Former Ace For Rotation Help
With injuries thinning out the rotation, the Athletics have taken a low-risk look at a familiar name in Dallas Keuchel, who is trying to work his way back into the majors on a minor league contract. For a club that has been scrambling to patch together innings, the move fits the moment: Oakland needs depth, and Keuchel brings the kind of veteran track record that can at least make him worth a closer look.
The timing matters because the As have been hit by setbacks with J.T. Ginn and Luis Severino, leaving the staff even more vulnerable as it tries to stabilize. Keuchels last MLB action came with the Brewers in 2024, and his recent results have trended the wrong way, so this is very much a comeback bid rather than a sure thing. Still, for a team searching for any reliable rotation help it can find, the door is open. [Read more 🡒]