The A’s are staring at another offseason need that can’t be ignored: starting pitching. Their bullpen ERA was the worst in baseball last season, and the rotation wasn’t far behind in terms of problems. That’s why the club has been linked to plenty of ways to patch the staff, but one of the more intriguing options would be a different kind of gamble - trading for a reliever and trying to stretch him back out.
That’s where Aaron Ashby comes in. During the Brewers’ World Series run, word surfaced that the left-hander still hopes to return to a starting role someday.
For Milwaukee, he’s been a sharp weapon out of the bullpen, and this postseason he has yet to allow a run. Over the regular season, he put up a 3.12 ERA in 89.1 innings.
Ashby’s path is already a familiar one. He debuted in the Majors as a starter in 2021, then made 19 starts for the Brewers in 2022.
But Milwaukee decided he wasn’t the right fit in that role and shifted him back to relief when he returned in 2024. Since then, his stuff has ticked up and his value has grown.
That’s exactly why he could make sense for the A’s. A reliever generally costs less in a trade than a proven starter, and Oakland has the kind of young position-player depth that could help it get a deal done. Tommy White and Max Muncy are two names who could be part of a package, especially with both carrying upside and unclear paths to regular roles with the club moving forward.
The financial side matters too. If the A’s wanted a veteran starter in free agency, they’d likely be looking at at least $20 million.
Ashby, by comparison, is set to earn just $7 million. That kind of price tag makes the upside even more appealing, especially with Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs potentially leaving the rotation this offseason.
If Oakland did pull it off, Ashby would slide into the mix with J.T. Ginn and Jacob Lopez, plus whoever else the team adds.
He wouldn’t have to be the ace of the staff, and the A’s would be wise not to ask him to carry that burden. But as another arm with real upside, he could be a smart piece to add.
In Other News...
As Offseason Pressure Is Already Building Around One Big Pitching Question
With the World Series still hanging in the balance after an extra-inning Game 4 and a decisive Game 5 set for tonight, the offseason picture is already getting sharper for clubs that know they will have to shop carefully. For the Athletics, that means the spotlight is quickly turning to pitching, where payroll limits figure to keep them out of the top end of the free-agent market and force a more measured approach to roster building.
Even before the championship is decided, the broader labor climate is adding another layer of uncertainty. A potential owner-imposed lockout on Dec. 1, tied to disputes over salary-cap proposals, could spill into the schedule and affect the 2027 season as well as the normal flow of transactions. If the As are going to add arms, they may have to do it without getting into the kind of bidding war that has become routine elsewhere, and the names already floating around suggest a search for practical fits rather than marquee splashes. [Read more 🡒]