The A’s have plenty of reasons to be frustrated with how this season has gone, but the problems aren’t limited to the injury report. With both of their All-Stars out for the rest of the year, the roster has been forced to carry more weight than it can handle - and some of the players still on the field have not answered the call.
That leaves a few names with real pressure on them over the final stretch, especially if they want to put themselves in position to matter next season, when the A’s are expected to be contending before the move to Las Vegas. Jeffrey Springs and Carlos Cortes are two of the clearest examples.
Springs has already been discussed as a candidate to come out of the rotation, but if the A’s stick with him, they need more from him than they’ve gotten so far. Last season, he led the entire pitching staff in innings pitched. This year, he hasn’t been able to give the club that kind of length, and his starts have been ending too quickly, forcing a shaky bullpen into action far earlier than anyone wants.
He’s generally been a five-to-seven-inning pitcher in the past. That hasn’t been the case this season.
Springs has also pointed to Sutter Health Park, the A’s minor league home, as part of the explanation for his struggles. The park may play a bit hitter-friendly, but that doesn’t erase the bigger issue: his road ERA is also north of five.
For a veteran, that kind of explanation lands poorly, especially when younger players are watching.
Carlos Cortes is in a different spot, but the need for a turnaround is just as clear. He came out blazing and was one of the hottest hitters on the roster early in the year.
That stretch earned him time at the top of the lineup, batting in front of Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers. But a slump changes everything fast.
If Cortes keeps sliding, he won’t just move down in the order - he could eventually find himself back on the bench.
The numbers tell the story. Cortes is now batting below .260 again, and he has offered almost nothing against left-handed pitching.
That has turned him into an inconsistent platoon option rather than the steady presence the A’s needed. If he can get back anywhere close to what he showed in the first month or two of the season, it would give the lineup a much-needed lift.
In Other News...
A's Top Prospects Just Reached A Crucial Test On Fast Track
Jamie Arnold and Devin Taylor have both been pushed onto the next rung of the Athletics prospect ladder, moving up to Triple-A Las Vegas after making convincing cases at Double-A Midland. For a farm system that is trying to turn promising talent into major league answers, these are the kinds of promotions that matter, especially with Arnold already showing the polish expected from a pitcher ranked among the organizations top arms and Taylor carrying his bat upward after strong work at both High-A and Double-A.
Arnold finished his Midland run with a 2.43 ERA and 73 strikeouts over his final 13 starts, then carried that momentum into his first taste of Triple-A action. Taylor, meanwhile, has kept producing offensively since the jump, including a game in which he drove in plenty of runs and showed the kind of impact that can force a quicker timeline. Both players are now at a level where the next step is no longer about whether they belong, but how soon the Athletics might have to make room. [Read more 🡒]
As Pulled Off A Sloppy Win Mariners Fans Wont Like
The Athletics opened their series against Seattle with a 7-4 win that had plenty of the usual late-summer wobble, but also enough timely production to make the margin feel deserved. Oakland got on the board early and kept adding on, then leaned on an offense that cashed in with multiple RBI hits and a pitching staff that missed plenty of bats while still putting extra runners on base.
Zack Gelof gave the As the start they wanted with a solo home run in the first inning, setting the tone before Oakland kept building the lead and eventually reached 55 wins on the season. The pitching line was a little messy, with 18 strikeouts mixed in with eight walks, but the Mariners never fully took control of the game and the As found enough insurance late to close it out. [Read more 🡒]
As Final Stretch Now Comes Down To One Hope For The Future
The final stretch has become less about the standings for the Athletics than about what the organization can take from the seasons last few weeks. After a recent win over the Mariners, the club still has 21 games left, and the focus has shifted toward the same issues that have defined much of the year: pitching instability, coaching changes and a broader search for answers. Even so, there has been at least some payoff in the form of young talent getting a first taste of the majors, which matters for a team trying to build a more stable base for what comes next.
Several of the organizations top prospects have already reached the big leagues, and the farm system has continued to supply reasons for optimism. Recent draft picks and international signings have shown enough in the minors to keep the future from feeling entirely cloudy, even if the immediate picture remains uneven. For an Athletics team still sorting through the present, the bigger question now is which of these young players can turn early promise into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]