A report linking Jacob Wilson to the trade block has kicked off a real debate around the Athletics’ next move, and it starts with the obvious question: why would they even entertain it?
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said Wilson could be available this offseason, and that alone was enough to get people talking. On the surface, it feels like a stretch.
Wilson is the A’s starting shortstop, he’s under contract for seven years after signing a $70 million extension, and the club is just one year away from its move to Las Vegas. Moving a player like that now would mean parting with one of the faces of the roster before the new stadium opens.
There’s also the age factor. Wilson will turn 25 at the start of next season, which is still early in a player’s career by any standard.
He already made the All-Star Game as a rookie in 2025, and while his second season didn’t match that level, the slide can be traced in part to injuries. Before the All-Star break, he was having a solid year.
Trading him now would mean selling low on a young player who is already locked in long term.
But there is a case for at least thinking it through.
Wilson’s second half was rough, and his season ended with major shoulder surgery. The expectation is that he’ll be ready for Spring Training, but shoulders can be unpredictable. If the Athletics believe the injury could turn into a recurring issue, that changes the conversation.
The contract matters too. It’s not the kind of deal that would scare off every team, even in a smaller market.
In fact, it could widen the pool of interested clubs if the A’s ever decided to make him available. New President Taylor Smith also has no direct connection to Wilson, which could make him less tied to the player than previous decision-makers.
And Wilson’s contact-heavy style would fit nicely with teams that need more balance in the lineup.
Then there’s the roster puzzle. Leo De Vries, the A’s top prospect and one of the best in the sport, is close to his big league debut, which is expected in 2026 if there is a season.
He’s a shortstop too. The A’s have already kicked around the idea of moving Wilson to second base or shifting De Vries to third, but dealing Wilson would clear the path for De Vries to stay at his natural position.
Even with all that, a trade still feels unlikely. The A’s would need pitching back - a lot of it - and that’s the real sticking point.
This team needs arms badly, and Wilson would be the kind of player they could use to chase them. Still, with the Vegas move approaching, Wilson coming off a down year, and the long-term contract already in place, the odds of a deal coming together look slim.
So the question remains: would the A’s really consider making Wilson available?
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