The Athletics already have a couple of names that could put them in the MVP conversation by 2027, and Nick Kurtz sits at the top of that list.
Kurtz was the engine for this club last season. When he was right, he looked like the kind of hitter who can carry an offense almost by himself.
Over the first half of the year, when he was 100%, he put together a .902 OPS with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs. He also drew 76 walks, a total that dwarfed Lawrence Butler’s 33 by 43.
For stretches, he was near the top of MLB in walks, RBIs and OBP even while playing for a team that could barely get to .500. If that version shows up across 2027, he’s got a real MVP case.
Zack Gelof gives the Athletics another player who could force his way into that discussion. By the end of the season, he looked like the club’s most complete all-around player.
He made big plays in left field, third base and even second, and that kind of versatility only helps his profile in MVP voting. His 86th-percentile speed should also keep pushing his stolen base total upward.
The numbers Gelof posted while missing more than 50 games only strengthen the argument. In 111 games, he hit 22 home runs, drove in 55 runs, batted .256 and finished with a .797 OPS.
He also finished second on the team with 16 stolen bases. If he can stay on the field, those totals start to look even louder over a full season.
Shea Langeliers was in the mix last spring, too, so he belongs in the conversation. But a meniscus tear and the way his production stalled make a full breakout next year hard to picture, even if that isn’t really on him.
Henry Bolte is another intriguing name for the future. Like Gelof, he has obvious five-tool ability and major upside, but his age and consistency issues make it a reach to put him on an MVP ballot next year unless something wild happens.
In Other News...
A's Young Core Return Creates A 2027 Lineup Crunch
A lot can change for a rebuilding club in two years, but the Athletics are already starting to see how a healthier future can create a different kind of problem. By 2027, the group that could form the core of the next competitive As team is expected to include Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and a fully healthy Shea Langeliers, a promising foundation that would give the front office real options and real decisions at the same time.
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
Kenya Huggins move from the Reds to the Athletics at the 2025 Trade Deadline brought the pitching prospect into a new organization, new expectations and a new support system almost immediately. Since the deal, he has built a mentorship relationship with Athletics Hall of Famer Dave Stewart, who has been guiding him through the early part of his professional career and helping him settle into his first full season with the club.
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 🡒]
As Still Face One Urgent Question As Vogt Keeps Advancing
Stephen Vogts playoff run with the Guardians has only added another layer to an already busy offseason in Oakland. The former Athletics catcher is guiding Cleveland through October, and the Guardians win in the opener of the ALCS only deepened the sense that one of the organizations most recognizable recent figures is now living a very different baseball life than the club that helped shape him.
Back with the Athletics, the bigger question remains who will steer the next phase of the front office. The search for a President of Baseball Operations is still unfolding, with Sam Fuld having declined the job and Taylor Smith emerging as a rumored front-runner, but no official call has been made. For a team trying to settle its direction, the contrast with Vogts rise is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]