With the Athletics spiraling to close out the first half, roster changes feel less like a possibility and more like a matter of time. If things don’t turn quickly, even a DFA wouldn’t be out of the question for some of these players. By season’s end, this version of the A’s could look very different.
Jack Perkins is one of the names that stands out immediately. He began as a reliever, but injuries pushed him into the starting rotation, and the results have been uneven.
Perkins has had stretches where he looked sharp, but the broader picture points to a pitcher who has run into a wall. That downturn has been part of the team’s losing streak, and a trip to Triple-A could be the next step if the struggles continue.
Jacob Lopez has already made a strong case for that spot, looking solid since being called up and emerging as a top option to replace Perkins in the rotation.
Henry Bolte’s situation is just as concerning, only for a different reason. He was rolling earlier, but his bat has gone cold at the worst possible time, and the Athletics’ offense has felt it.
The team has already reacted by dropping him from leadoff to the bottom of the order. Over his last 15 games, Bolte is hitting .135 (5-of-37) with three RBIs and a home run.
For a player whose speed is supposed to be a weapon, not getting him on base has taken a real toll on the lineup. A reset in the minors could be the move here, giving him a chance to rebuild confidence instead of grinding through the slump in the majors.
Justin Sterner is another reliever who could be in danger. He’s been serviceable overall, but the recent results have slipped.
In his last 10 appearances, he has given up at least one run in five of them. July has been especially rough, and that stretch makes the case for a demotion stronger.
Over his last five outings, Sterner has a 14.73 ERA and a 2.45 WHIP, with two home runs allowed. The Athletics have alternatives, too, including Kade Morris, who had started to look strong in the bullpen before getting sent down.
If Sterner goes, the hope is that the late innings start to stabilize.
In Other News...
A's Are Finally Giving Tommy White A Look Fans Wanted
Tommy White is getting the call at a time when the Athletics need another bat and a little more flexibility on the roster. The club is set to bring up the infielder for the series opener against the Washington Nationals, a move that comes as part of a broader shuffle that includes activating Donovan Walton and sending Joey Meneses and Brian Serven to Triple-A.
Whites path to Oakland has been watched closely by fans who have wanted to see him get a real look, and the opening was created when Brent Rookers season-ending injury moved him to the 60-day injured list. White is not on the 40-man roster, so the As had to make room, and now the question is how quickly he can settle into a major league role and give the lineup something it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
A's Youth Movement Just Took A Dramatic Turn This Week
The Athletics roster churn has kept the focus squarely on the future, and this week brought another clear sign of how aggressively the club is leaning into it. Oakland brought up third baseman Tommy White and right-hander Yunior Tur, adding another layer to a youth movement that has already been reshaping the big-league picture while the organization continues sorting through its pitching staff.
The timing matters, too, because the moves come on the heels of the clubs recent dismissal of pitching coach Scott Emerson, a change that underscored how much pressure is building around the mound. Aaron Civales season has been a struggle, and he had not pitched for the As since July 10, leaving the organization with a decision that says plenty about where it thinks the next phase of this season is headed. [Read more 🡒]
A's Deadline Direction Suddenly Feels Far More Complicated
A nine-game losing streak has a way of turning a front offices summer plans into a moving target, and that is where the Athletics find themselves as the second half opens. Even with the skid, there are still reasons to think the roster has some life in it, thanks in part to the steady play of Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Jacob Wilson, while the club remains close enough in the standings to keep a playoff push from feeling entirely out of reach.
That is what makes the coming weeks tricky for Oakland. The Athletics are still within striking distance of the division race, but they also have to decide whether the smarter play is to add pitching and try to stabilize the staff or to listen on key veterans and recast the roster for later. With the deadline approaching, the organization suddenly has more than one plausible direction, and the path it chooses could say plenty about how real this second-half push actually is. [Read more 🡒]