The A’s have brought in Taylor Smith and Cam Castro to help reshape a pitching operation that badly needs it, but the job ahead is a lot bigger than simply flipping a switch.
There’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about what Smith and Castro know. They arrive with reputations for understanding pitching, developing talent and getting more out of players.
But the scale of the challenge matters, too. Turning this staff into something respectable is not the same thing as waving a wand over it.
The temptation is to assume the fixes will be obvious: Luis Morales and Jack Perkins suddenly figuring it out, the whole group taking a leap, the pitching staff rising to a level that actually outpaces the home ballpark. But that’s not how this usually works.
Pitching problems can live in a pitcher’s head, in mechanics that have been built in over time, or in a player’s willingness to absorb what’s being taught. And even then, “stuff” and actual pitching performance don’t always line up.
That’s why the idea that the A’s are starting from a blank slate doesn’t really hold up. Luis Medina and JT Ginn are reminders that not every young arm is broken beyond recognition.
Around the league, too, there are plenty of examples of prospects whose raw ability never fully translated. Even the Rays couldn’t fix Joe Boyle’s control, which is a good reminder not to hang every bullpen hope on Luke Little’s left arm.
The other path is to go shopping outside the organization, and that route comes with its own problems. The A’s can talk about being aggressive, but they’re still headed into another season in a AAA park after 98 losses, however those losses came about.
Payroll may be rising, but it is not going to challenge the top 10 spenders. And with most teams chasing starting pitching, this is a player’s market.
That means the kind of free agent worth really caring about is likely to come with a deal the A’s will probably regret later. It would be the sort of player-friendly contract that eats into flexibility and feels, in the end, like “a more expensive Luis Severino”.
Trade talks are no easier. If the A’s want real starting pitching, they’d almost certainly have to give up one of their key position players, such as Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom or Zack Gelof, or a prized minor leaguer like Leo De Vries, Jamie Arnold or Drew Burress, the kind of prospect who might not help until 2028.
The more realistic middle ground may be an MLB-ready starter who still needs to prove he can hold up, the sort of arm that could become the next Dan Haren - or the next Dan Meyer, if things go the other way. That may be the kind of pitcher the A’s had in mind when they were in AAA, maybe even someone like Luis Morales or Jack Perkins.
In the long run, Smith and Castro should be able to improve the A’s by changing how the organization drafts, develops and trains pitchers from the ground up. The harder question is whether they can make enough of a dent right away, with this current group and in this coming year. For that, you might need Anne Sullivan, and she’s been, er, retired for 90 years.
In Other News...
Former A's Outfielder Is Fighting For Another Shot
The Padres have added some outfield depth for the stretch run into next season, signing Kala'i Rosario and Cal Stevenson to minor league contracts. For Stevenson, it is another chance to keep his career moving after spending time in the majors with multiple clubs, a path that has made him a familiar name to teams looking for a versatile, experienced option in the system.
For Oakland fans, Stevenson is the more recognizable piece of the move, given his time with the A's before stops in San Francisco and Philadelphia. San Diego is bringing him in to compete for a corner outfield role at Triple-A El Paso next spring, a sign the club is already trying to shore up possible roster holes while giving Stevenson a clear lane to fight for another shot. [Read more 🡒]
As Took Another Pitching Flier Fans Will Want To Watch
The Athletics have added another arm to their offseason pitching hunt, bringing in left-hander Luke Little as they continue trying to stock the system with experienced, under-the-radar options under their new leadership. Little has spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the Cubs, and the move fits the clubs broader push to find pitchers who can offer something a little different without costing much to evaluate.
Littles appeal is easy to see on paper. He brings a career 2.97 ERA over 36.1 innings, along with the kind of size and velocity that can make him stand out in a crowded pitching mix. Oakland is betting on traits that usually travel well, and Littles profile gives the As another name to watch as they sort through a winter built around low-risk pitching bets. [Read more 🡒]
As Suddenly Face A Jacob Wilson Decision They Never Expected
Jacob Wilsons rough 2026 season left the Athletics with more questions than they expected when they locked him into a long-term deal. A left shoulder sprain and later surgery cut his year short, and now the club has to weigh what comes next for a player who was supposed to be part of the core, not a topic of uncertainty. With Taylor Smith now running baseball operations, the way Oakland evaluates Wilson could look different than it did under the previous regime.
The timing makes the situation even more interesting because the As are sorting through bigger roster decisions in the infield and on the pitching side at the same time. Wilson still carries significant value to the organization, but his injury history has added a layer of unpredictability to a decision the team did not seem headed toward a year ago. For a franchise trying to map out its next step, the question around Wilson may end up being one of the most revealing ones on the board. [Read more 🡒]