The Athletics have a bullpen problem to solve, and it showed last season in the ugliest way possible. They finished with the worst bullpen ERA in baseball, and the late innings were a mess because there was never a true closer who settled things down.
Elvis Alvarado was supposed to be that guy. Instead, his rough stretch sent him down to Triple-A. He returned later and worked again as the closer, but the better version of him may be as an elite middle reliever rather than someone asked to handle the ninth every night.
That’s where Taylor Smith comes in. With a new President of Baseball Operations now leading the club, the A’s will have a clear view of how thin the bullpen really is, and they’ll be searching for answers. A lockout potentially looming this offseason could also force the team to spend more than planned, and if that happens, a real late-inning arm becomes an obvious target for a roster built around an electric offense.
One name that fits the bill is David Bednar. If the A’s want one of the top closers available, the former Yankees closer brings exactly the kind of resume that makes a front office feel safe.
He is a two-time All-Star, and by 2027 he’ll be entering his age-32 season, which could push him toward a multi-year deal. That kind of contract would not only strengthen the bullpen now, but could keep him in place through the team’s Vegas years.
Bednar’s 2026 season was as steady as it gets. He logged a 2.47 ERA over 69.1 innings for the Yankees, and he finished with a 2.30 ERA across his time in Pittsburgh and New York in 2025.
He made $9 million last season, so landing him would likely mean paying more and going at least three years. If the Athletics made that move, he’d immediately become their best reliever and step in as the elite closer they lost with Mason Miller gone.
That would also shift Hogan Harris and Elvis Alvarado into middle relief or setup work.
Another path points to Alex Vesia. The Dodgers left-hander is a two-time World Series champion, and that kind of résumé can bring a bigger payday and a longer commitment. If the A’s could get him on a multi-year deal, he could be lined up to close for them during their time in Las Vegas and join a young staff that could be in position to make a postseason push in 2026.
Vesia has already spent plenty of time in pressure spots for Los Angeles, serving as a setup man for several seasons. He could make a natural transition into the ninth inning for the A’s.
Last season, he put up a 2.64 ERA in 58 innings for the Dodgers, and he has 13 saves over the last three seasons. For a club looking for stability at the back end, he checks a lot of boxes.
In Other News...
As Face Mounting Pressure In Taylor Smiths First Crucial Offseason
With the postseason spotlight on Milwaukee and Tampa Bay to open the World Series, the Athletics are busy dealing with a very different kind of pressure back home. Taylor Smith has just been hired as president of baseball operations, and his first offseason matters in a big way as the club looks toward 2027 and the move into a new ballpark in Las Vegas.
The front office has to make real progress on a roster that still needs significant upgrades, especially on the pitching side, while also sorting out the direction of the staff around Mark Kotsay. It is the kind of early test that can shape how this regime is judged, because the As are not just trying to get better for one year - they are trying to build something that can travel with them into a new era. [Read more 🡒]