The A’s have spent the past month getting hammered by injuries, but that mess has also opened the door for a few encouraging developments. Lawrence Butler is right at the center of it.
After a slow start, Butler has caught fire over the last couple of weeks and is now swinging the bat nearly .300 during that stretch. That hot run has changed how the A’s can use him, too. He was once limited to facing right-handers as a platoon piece, but now he’s seeing more work against both lefties and righties.
That surge matters because Butler already showed what he can do in the second half of 2024, when he broke out and turned that stretch into a long-term extension. If he stays with the organization, he’ll be part of the Las Vegas Athletics in 2028.
For now, though, the bigger story is how much he’s forcing his way into the everyday picture. With so many injuries thinning out the roster, Butler is getting more regular playing time, and the A’s are starting to see what his future role could look like.
The problem is that he’s not the only outfielder pushing for a spot. The A’s have plenty of options there for next season, and the group could be good enough to fuel one of the best offenses in baseball. That creates a real logjam.
One possible alignment would have Henry Bolte in center, Soderstrom in left and Butler in right. But that arrangement could get crowded once more prospects arrive, including Drew Burress.
If that happens, the A’s may eventually have to make a tougher call and move someone out of the mix, with Soderstrom or even Bolte as possible trade candidates. Bolte, though, has already shown he can be a major part of this scrappy A’s team going forward.
In Other News...
A's Top Prospect Created Real Buzz But Now Faces A New Concern
Leo De Vries spent much of the season looking every bit like the As most exciting young piece, putting together a strong run at Double-A Midland and adding another layer to his profile by getting work at third base. The 2026 campaign gave Oakland plenty to dream on, with De Vries hitting .290 with 13 home runs and 34 stolen bases in 93 games while continuing to show why he has become such a talked-about part of the organizations future.
Now the focus has shifted from production to patience after a sore right shoulder sent De Vries to the seven-day injured list and shut down his Minor League season. The good news for the As is that the issue is not considered serious, and he is already rehabbing at the clubs Spring Training complex, leaving open the possibility of more baseball later this year if he can move on to the Arizona Fall League or winter ball. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Enter Crucial Series With Playoff Push Suddenly Under Pressure
Baltimore arrives in Oakland having steadied itself a bit by taking two of three from the Cardinals, but this next stop on a nine-game road trip still feels important in the larger playoff chase. The Orioles have gotten some pop from Coby Mayo, whose three-run homer helped in a recent loss, and theyll need more of that kind of production as they turn to a matchup with an As club that has shown some life of its own lately, with Lawrence Butler and Alika Williams both turning in strong recent performances.
The series opener sets up as one of those games that can tilt the tone of a road trip early, with Baltimore sending Brandon Young to the mound against Oakland left-hander Jacob Lopez. The Orioles have every reason to treat this one seriously, especially with the standings pressure starting to build and the As looking capable of making things uncomfortable if the lineup doesnt cash in on its chances. [Read more 🡒]
As Let Another Home Opportunity Slip Away In Painful Loss
The Athletics kept fighting through a frustrating night at Sutter Health Park, but the early damage from Baltimore proved just enough to hold up in a 4-3 loss that stretched into extra innings. Oakland got a solid start from Jacob Lopez and a lift from catcher Jonah Heims home run, which helped keep the game within reach as the As tried to claw back from the Orioles early lead.
The comeback effort finally tightened in the late innings when Oakland pulled even in the eighth, giving the home crowd a chance to believe the As might steal one after all. Instead, the game drifted into the kind of extra-inning tension that has so often left little margin for error, and the As were left once again looking at another home opportunity that slipped away. [Read more 🡒]