The A’s may be staring at a season that has slipped out of reach, but Jeff McNeil has still managed to carve out a meaningful role in the middle of all the noise. And if the club is thinking about next season, there’s a strong case for keeping him around.
McNeil arrived this past offseason in a trade with the New York Mets, the organization where he spent his entire career before landing in Oakland. The 34-year-old was expected to be more of a lower-order bat and a veteran voice for the younger infielders. Instead, he’s hit .263, which is a solid return for the role he was projected to fill.
The biggest argument for McNeil isn’t complicated. It’s the way he plays.
He has brought consistent hustle every day, and that kind of effort matters in a clubhouse with younger players watching closely. Around the league, plenty of veterans coast to first on routine grounders.
McNeil hasn’t done that. He’s set a tone, and that example seems to have rubbed off on the rest of the roster.
That leadership piece is real, but the roster math gets tricky. The A’s already appear set at first base with Nick Kurtz and at shortstop with Jacob Wilson.
JKG and Tommy White have both had some success this season, and Zack Gelof has also been productive. There’s also the possibility that top prospect Leo De Vries could be in the picture next season, though the source suggests he may not be up for a while.
If that’s how things shake out, the A’s could keep McNeil at second base, play JKG at third, and use Gelof in the outfield. That would give McNeil a lane, and it would keep a veteran presence in place for a team that has clearly benefited from having one.
McNeil’s value goes beyond box scores. He’s been a model of how a big-league player is supposed to carry himself, and that alone makes him worth serious consideration for next year.
In Other News...
Athletics Let Early Surge Slip Away In Another Costly Loss
Henry Bolte gave the Athletics a jolt with a three-run homer and a three-hit night, but the early lift still wasnt enough in a 5-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. J.T. Ginn worked six innings for Oakland, allowing four earned runs, and the club again came up short of putting together back-to-back wins as it continues to sit with the worst record in the sport.
The Rangers leaned on MacKenzie Gore to work into the sixth, then turned the rest over to a bullpen that finished the job with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Oakland now heads into the series finale still searching for a cleaner all-around showing, with Jacob Lopez set to start against Cody Bradford. [Read more 🡒]
A's Progress At The Plate Keeps Getting Undone By One Problem
The Athletics got enough early offense to put themselves in position to win, and the encouraging part was seeing more of it come from the top of the order. Jeff McNeil and Henry Bolte have helped stabilize the leadoff spot lately, and Bolte even gave the As a three-run home run in this one, while Alika Williams kept his hitting streak going and has quietly pushed his average to .273 on the season.
But once again, the concern was whether the pitching could protect the lead. J.T. Ginn worked six innings, yet he allowed eight hits and four runs, leaving the As vulnerable after carrying the game for much of the afternoon. For a club trying to turn better plate production into actual results, the pattern is becoming familiar: enough offense to matter, not enough on the mound to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]
Henry Bolte Is Giving The A's A New Reason To Believe
Henry Bolte keeps flashing the kind of upside the Athletics have been hoping to see, even in a loss. Against the Rangers, the young outfielder turned in one of those games that makes a rebuilding club pause and look a little closer, pairing timely power with extra-base hit ability while the As still came up short in a 5-3 defeat.
J.T. Ginn gave Oakland a solid six-inning start with seven strikeouts, but late runs again left the As chasing the game. Brady Basso continued to make his case after returning from Triple-A, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Boltes night offered another reminder that there may be more coming for this lineup if he keeps stacking performances like this. [Read more 🡒]