The Athletics are heading into a busy offseason with roster spots to clear and a general manager search still underway. After mutually parting ways with longtime GM David Forst, the club has spent the last few weeks interviewing candidates, and the front office picture remains unsettled with the World Series next week and the offseason following soon after.
That uncertainty comes with a practical roster problem, too. Because the A’s had to place a number of players on the 60-day injured list while trying to survive a rough 2026 season health-wise, they’ll need to open up some 40-man roster space before the offseason gets rolling.
One move looks fairly straightforward: Johnathan Rodriguez. The A’s made seven waiver claims from July 30 to Sept. 11, and six of them were pitchers as they tried to shore up a shaky staff.
Rodriguez was the lone position player among those additions, brought in after the club had already lost several position players to season-ending injuries. The former Cleveland outfielder got a chance to finish the year in the organization, but his .239 batting line with the Las Vegas Aviators didn’t do enough to push him into the big-league mix.
With that in mind, designating Rodriguez for assignment looks like the cleanest way to create room on the 40-man roster.
There’s a less obvious name to watch, too: Darell Hernaiz. The infielder does have some big-league experience, but his profile comes with limitations. He’s a contact hitter rather than a bat who’s going to carry a lineup, and his defensive value is more about versatility than standout glove work.
Hernaiz closed out 2026 hitting .234 with a .594 OPS, though he did post a .320 average in 75 at-bats at Sutter Health Park. At one point, scouts saw him as a possible elite infielder, but that projection has faded enough that he no longer looks like the kind of player teams automatically lock in.
That’s why he could be a surprising DFA candidate. Another club might be intrigued enough to claim him and take a shot on the upside that once made him such an interesting prospect. If he gets through waivers, though, he could stay in the A’s organization.
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Athletics GM Search Takes A Turn Fans Have Been Waiting On
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There is still no announcement from the club, and the job has already seen at least one path close off along the way, which is part of why this stage matters so much. For an As front office that needs stability and direction, the identity of the next GM will say plenty about what kind of rebuild the team wants to push forward, even if the final answer has not arrived yet. [Read more 🡒]
As Face A Major Shea Langeliers Decision This Winter
The Athletics are headed into the winter with one of their most important roster calls still unresolved, and it comes at a time when the front office is in flux. The club has yet to hire a full-time president of baseball operations or general manager since Aug. 7, leaving the next decision-maker to inherit a tricky Shea Langeliers situation as the catcher heads toward an arbitration payday and eventual free agency after the 2028 season.
Langeliers remains one of the more valuable pieces on the roster, but the question is whether Oakland wants to keep building around him or consider a move while his market still has appeal. His recent injury only complicates the picture further, making both the timing and the return on any potential trade harder to pin down for a team that already has enough uncertainty on its hands. [Read more 🡒]