Denzel Clarke’s case for a spot on the 2027 Athletics roster is built on one thing everyone already knows: the glove plays. The question is whether the bat can do enough to keep him in the mix when the A’s start sorting out what next year’s club should look like.
Clarke has already shown he can change games in the field. Since making his MLB debut last season, he has established himself as one of baseball’s best defensive outfielders, the kind of player who can erase hits with range and jaw-dropping catches. That part of his profile is not in doubt.
The problem is what happens when he’s standing in the box. Last season, in 148 at-bats with the Green and Gold, Clarke hit .230 with a .646 OPS.
This year has been even rougher. In 73 at-bats, he is batting .151 with a .399 OPS, and he has only one extra-base hit - a double, with no triples and no homers.
Put the two seasons together, and Clarke owns a .205 career batting average. That makes it tough to justify giving him everyday at-bats when the offensive return has been so limited.
The roster picture adds another wrinkle. The A’s outfield is expected to be heavy on left-handed bats next season, with Tyler Soderstrom likely the best of that group and Lawrence Butler turning in another big second half.
Henry Bolte, the rookie sensation, is also in the outfield mix, and left-handed Carlos Cortes could factor in as well. That opens the door for a right-handed option.
If the A’s decide to keep four outfielders, not counting designated hitter Brent Rooker, the group could be Soderstrom, Butler, Bolte and Clarke. That would give them two righties and two lefties.
It would also let the A’s play the matchups a little more cleanly, with Clarke available late in games as a defensive replacement or even as a pinch runner. That kind of usage might be the cleanest way to get his glove on the field while limiting the pressure on his bat.
In Other News...
Athletics Spoiler Win Put One Oakland Roster Debate Back In Focus
The Athletics spoiler win in Game 2 had more than just AL West ripple effects. It also put a familiar Oakland roster question back in view, with Jonah Heim in the middle of it after a two-hit, RBI effort in a game that otherwise felt like a showcase for the pitching side of the conversation.
Heims production has been hard to separate from the larger debate around his role going forward, especially after a rough stretch that has left his standing less certain heading into next season. On the mound, Jacob Lopez helped his case with another solid outing, while Hogan Harris kept the pressure on late in a high-leverage relief spot, giving Oakland a few more reasons to look closely at how this group fits together. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Face Two Costly Roster Decisions This Offseason
The Athletics are already looking ahead to the offseason after another difficult year, and two familiar names are sitting at the center of their roster math. Jeff McNeil has been productive since the break, but keeping him at second base would come with a hefty price tag, while Jonah Heims season has followed a far more uneven path after an encouraging start.
McNeils value on the field is obvious enough, yet Oakland has reason to weigh cheaper options if it wants to spread its resources around more efficiently. Heim, meanwhile, offered a glimpse of stability early before his production tailed off, and the As do have alternatives lined up if they decide to move in a different direction behind the plate. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Lopez Just Gave The Athletics A Real 2027 Reason For Hope
Jacob Lopez ended his 2026 season on a note the Athletics can actually build on, delivering six innings of one-run ball in a win over the Astros. It was the kind of finish that mattered beyond one game, especially for a pitcher who had been recalled from Triple-A in July and looked much more settled after rejoining the big league staff.
Lopezs season still came with the usual growing pains of a young arm, as his year finished with a 5.47 ERA over 27 games after a strong first stretch back. Even so, both Lopez and Mark Kotsay sounded encouraged by where he stands heading into the winter, and the next step may depend as much on his offseason work as on anything he did on the mound in 2026. [Read more 🡒]