The Athletics already have the kind of young core that can change the feel of a season in a hurry, and the group only looks more dangerous when you zoom in on the players who could make the biggest leap from one year to the next. Nick Kurtz sits at the front of that conversation, but the real intrigue is in the layers behind him - the talent that could help set up a massive 2027 for Oakland.
Gage Jump is the kind of pitcher whose full-season line doesn’t tell the whole story. His year ended at 6-11 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP, but there was a stretch before the break that made people believe a breakout was coming.
In the first half, he went 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA, and that was enough to hint at something more. The stuff is there, too: an upper-90s fastball and a pair of solid breaking balls.
If he can find even a little consistency next season, Jump has a chance to become a major problem for opposing lineups.
The same kind of growth story applies to Bolte, who took a noticeable step forward after the break. Over the second half, he hit .289 with an .818 OPS, plus eight home runs and 22 RBIs.
That was a clear jump from his first-half production, when he batted .261 with a .690 OPS, three home runs, and 16 RBIs. He also played more down the stretch, appearing in 65 games in the second half compared with 54 in the first.
The next step for Bolte is simple in theory and tough in practice: keep the level steady and trim down the strikeouts. There were still stretches where he disappeared from the leadoff spot, and that inconsistency has to go if he’s going to push toward superstar territory.
Then there’s Lawrence Butler, who was easily the Athletics’ best second-half bat. He led the team with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, 28 walks, and a .853 OPS.
It would have been even better for the club if that version of Butler had shown up earlier, when the roster was healthier, but the finish still changed the outlook for next season. If Butler can keep that kind of production going with more regularity, the Athletics’ offense has a real chance to become the best in baseball.
With the core already in place and Butler back on track, Oakland could be looking at a team built for October.
In Other News...
Athletics Playoff Push Hinges On One Offseason Fix
The Athletics path forward this winter starts on the mound, where a weak pitching season left little doubt about the biggest item on the to-do list. To get back into the playoff conversation, the front office is expected to look at both trades and free agency to add stability to a rotation and bullpen that need more than just incremental help.
There is also some roster shuffling to consider if the club decides to make a bigger move, and the analysis around the team has already started to connect that search to a few familiar names. The offense could also be affected if Jeff McNeil is no longer in the picture, which would force Oakland to weigh outside help against internal options as it tries to fit the rest of the winter plan together. [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 🡒]