After a 2026 season that left Athletics fans frustrated, the outlook for 2027 is suddenly much brighter. The gap between what this team was and what it could have been was huge, and the biggest reason was simple: too much talent spent time on the shelf.
Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom all missed time, and that absence changed everything. Put that group back in the lineup for a full second half, and the Athletics might have been right in the AL West race. Maybe that sounds bold, but the numbers behind it make the case hard to ignore: that quartet had already combined for 70 home runs and 220 RBIs before getting hurt.
The core still has plenty to work with. Kurtz, Langeliers, Wilson, Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler formed the backbone, but the next wave may be what really changes the picture.
Henry Bolte and Zack Gelof stepped forward in a big way once the injuries piled up, and both players surged through the second half. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Carlos Cortes and Donovan Walton also belong in the mix, giving the lineup a deeper look than it had for much of the year.
That’s where things start to get dangerous. A top of the order with Bolte setting the table and Kurtz following behind him could create trouble in a hurry, with Langeliers waiting in the middle to cash in. And it wouldn’t stop there; the lineup has the potential to keep pressure on from one spot to the next.
The pitching staff also gave the Athletics something to build on. The bullpen stood out most, with strong work from Luis Medina, Hogan Harris and Elvis Alvarado, while Chris Roycroft and Seth Johnson were solid as well. If the club can layer more high-profile arms onto that group, the relief corps could be a real strength in 2027.
The rotation still needs help, likely one or two starters before the season begins. But if that comes together, the Athletics have a path to looking far more formidable than they did in 2026. A 98-loss team is not an obvious playoff pick, but in this case, it is not out of the question either.
In Other News...
As Make Offensive Shakeup After A Frustrating Season
After a frustrating season at the plate, the Athletics are making a significant coaching change on offense. Chris Cron, who had been with the organization since 2022 and served as the primary hitting coach in 2024, is out, and Marcus Jensen is also moving on after two decades in the As organization, including the past two seasons in a quality control role.
The move comes after Oaklands offensive struggles in 2026 were only made worse by injuries, leaving the club looking for a reset in how it prepares and develops hitters. The search is now on for new voices in both spots, a sign the As are not treating this as a minor tweak but as an important part of sorting out a lineup that never found enough consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Zack Gelof Could Decide How Far The Athletics Really Go
Zack Gelofs 2026 season still gave the Athletics plenty to build on, even with the time he missed. He managed 22 home runs and 55 RBIs despite being sidelined for 51 games, and that kind of production is exactly why his place in the lineup matters so much as the club looks ahead.
The hope in Oakland is that Gelof can stay on the field long enough to anchor the infield and give the lineup a real middle-of-the-order presence. His health is still the biggest variable, and with a legal fight tied to the injury he suffered in July lingering in the background, the Athletics are left waiting to see just how much more impact he can still provide. [Read more 🡒]
As Front Office Delay Is Starting To Shape The Entire Offseason
Three of the four first-round playoff series ended in sweeps, which has quickly shifted the attention around baseball to the next round and, for some clubs, to what comes after October. The Yankees, Padres and White Sox moved on, and the bracket now rolls into Yankees-Rays, White Sox-Guardians, Brewers-Padres and a decisive Game 3 between the Braves and Phillies, with Philadelphia still waiting to name a starter for the must-win game and Atlanta considering Grant Holmes.
For Oakland, the postseason backdrop only sharpens a quieter front office story that has been lingering in the background. The Athletics are still in the middle of their search for a new general manager, and the delay has a way of hanging over the calendar as other teams keep playing. The timing matters because the next voice in that chair is supposed to help steer the full offseason, and every day that passes makes that timeline feel a little tighter. [Read more 🡒]