The Athletics may have had their best opening to chase a playoff spot this season, but the path ahead looks tougher. The AL West was historically bad, and the 81-81 Astros were the only team from the division to reach October. That kind of window may not stay cracked for long, which is why the Athletics have to use the offseason to get better fast.
The biggest problem is impossible to miss: pitching. The Athletics finished 28th in MLB in overall pitching WAR at 9.6, a number that says plenty about how far the staff has to climb.
Jacob Misiorowski, who is projected as the probable NL Cy Young winner, finished the year with a 6.5 WAR on his own. The Athletics are not likely to land a pitcher like that, but they do need to stop fielding a rotation that looks that thin by comparison.
And right now, that rotation is shaky. Jacob Lopez, Jack Perkins and Jeffrey Springs are all unlikely to be in the Opening Day group. Lopez probably has the best shot of the three, but the bigger point is clear: the Athletics need at least one or two very solid starters, plus an above-average reliever, just to bring some stability to the staff.
If the front office wants a real overhaul, free agency alone probably won’t do it. The source of this fix may have to be a major trade, the kind that changes the shape of the roster in one move.
Names that could be available if the price is right include Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. Moving any of them would sting, but the argument here is that it may be necessary if the Athletics want to reach a higher level.
Even if nothing happens this winter, a move at the deadline still feels like something to expect.
There’s also a possible opening in the middle of the roster if the Athletics walk away from Jeff McNeil. If they do, they should look for a veteran to replace what he brings.
Modest spending options mentioned include SS JP Crawford, 2B Luis Arraez and 2B Jonathan India. None of them would fully recreate McNeil’s value, but each could make sense in a young clubhouse.
That said, the more likely route for filling that kind of void may be another trade, since McNeil himself arrived that way. And even if the Athletics don’t add that veteran presence, it wouldn’t be a deal-breaker. It would be a useful piece, not an absolute must.
In Other News...
Athletics Young Core Is Raising Hope Faster Than Fans Expected
The optimism around the Athletics young core has started to feel a little more concrete, not just aspirational. Nick Kurtz has flashed the kind of production that can speed up a rebuilding timeline, while Boltes second-half offensive surge gave the lineup another reason to believe there is real growth happening underneath the surface. Even amid the usual growing pains that come with a young roster, the early returns suggest the As may have more pieces worth building around than expected.
Lawrence Butler has been the clearest reminder that development can arrive quickly, and his second half gave Oakland a much-needed jolt. Gage Jump, meanwhile, showed why patience still matters, with inconsistency on the mound leaving his future tied as much to refinement as talent. If the Athletics can keep getting this kind of upward movement from multiple young players, the bigger question may not be whether the rebuild is working, but how soon it starts looking complete. [Read more 🡒]
Zack Gelofs Injury Just Took A Turn As Fans Didnt Expect
Zack Gelofs injury has taken an unusual and potentially significant turn, with the Athletics infielder now pursuing a legal route over the July incident at Comerica Park. The lawsuit names the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, and it frames the play in question as a matter of ballpark safety rather than simply an unfortunate on-field collision.
According to the complaint, Gelofs knee struck exposed metal fencing because the padding there was inadequate, and the filing says the area was padded shortly after the incident. The case seeks compensation for a range of damages, leaving the broader question now centered on how the injury is being viewed and what comes next for a player whose season has already been affected. [Read more 🡒]
Shea Langeliers Just Made The A's Offseason A Lot More Interesting
The Athletics finished their 2026 season with plenty to like on the offensive side, even if the year as a whole never quite matched the brighter moments in the lineup. Shea Langeliers was at the center of that, giving the club the kind of production that matters most from a catcher and putting together a season that stood out in a lineup that also got late help from Jeff McNeil and rookie Henry Bolte.
Now the offseason gets more complicated. Langeliers is expected to draw trade interest, which puts the As in a familiar spot of weighing long-term direction against the value of keeping one of their most productive bats in place. For a team still sorting out its next step, his name may end up being one of the first and most important ones to watch. [Read more 🡒]