Welcome to Tuesday, A’s fans.
While the offseason picture for the Athletics keeps coming into focus, one familiar name in the playoffs is giving plenty of A’s supporters a reason to pay attention. Stephen Vogt’s Guardians took Game 1 of the ALCS, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 behind late offense and moving within three wins of the World Series.
The Guardians have not won a title since 1948, which makes their 78-year drought the second-longest in the four major American sports leagues. Only the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals have gone longer without a championship. That’s the kind of run that has plenty of people around baseball pulling for Cleveland to finish the job.
A’s fans have an extra reason to care. Vogt spent years in green and gold, playing for the club from 2013 to mid-2017 before finishing his career with one more season in Oakland. He’s retired as a player, but he never really left the game or the A’s fan base behind.
He was long viewed as a manager waiting in the wings, and he got to that job quicker than many expected. After just one season with the Seattle Mariners as bullpen coach, he landed the Guardians’ managerial job, stepping in for Terry Francona.
That’s a tough act to follow, especially when you’re replacing a Hall of Fame manager like Tito, but Vogt has handled it impressively. In his third season running the club, he now has Cleveland three wins from the World Series.
There isn’t much left for A’s fans to latch onto in these playoffs besides quality baseball, but watching Vogt chase a ring would be a pretty good consolation prize. The only catch: some would probably still prefer to see him managing the A’s.
Back in the A’s world, the front office remains in limbo as the offseason nears. The club still has not settled on its next top decision-maker.
Former Athletic Sam Fuld was reportedly offered the President of Baseball Operations job but turned it down and will remain second-in-command in Philadelphia. Red Sox executive Taylor Smith is rumored to be the favorite, though nothing is confirmed yet.
That leaves plenty of room for speculation about where the A’s go from here. Do they lean toward a proven name like Mike Rizzo, or go in a younger direction with someone like Smith?
There are still several candidates in the mix, but with the postseason nearing its end, the decision probably can’t wait much longer. Maybe even today.
Game 2 of the ALCS begins at 5:00 West Coast time.
In Other News...
A's Young Core Return Creates A 2027 Lineup Crunch
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The squeeze is especially evident on the dirt, where there are more candidates than obvious openings, and it is not much cleaner in the outfield picture. Henry Bolte, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler are projected as part of that mix, while the club also has to sort through who fits as the next man up behind them. For a team trying to turn young talent into a coherent lineup, the hard part may not be finding enough pieces, but fitting them all in the right places. [Read more 🡒]
A's Prospect Is Leaning On A Franchise Legend During Crucial Transition
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For a young arm trying to make sense of a major transition, having a franchise legend in his corner can matter as much as any adjustment on the mound. Huggins has acknowledged how valuable Stewarts support has been as he navigates life in the As system, and that kind of connection can be especially meaningful for a pitcher trying to establish himself while learning what it takes to stick at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Young Core Has A Ceiling Fans Need To Start Watching
The Athletics rebuild is starting to show a few names with real star-level upside, and the conversation around the young core is no longer just about floor and development. Nick Kurtz flashed in a big way during the second half of last season, Zack Gelof kept showing the kind of versatility that can matter even when the games missed pile up, and Shea Langeliers and Henry Bolte are still part of the broader picture even if their paths to immediate stardom look more complicated.
Kurtz and Gelof are the two players worth tracking most closely as this group tries to turn promise into something more substantial. Langeliers injury makes the timeline fuzzier, while Boltes consistency still has to catch up to the talent, which is why the ceiling discussion keeps circling back to the same two bats and the possibility that one of them could grow into a much bigger award-caliber presence down the line. [Read more 🡒]