The AL West just got a little more crowded-and a little more competitive.
In back-to-back days, two of the Oakland A’s division rivals made moves that could shift the balance in the race for 2026. First, the Los Angeles Angels brought in third baseman Yoan Moncada, a talented bat with real upside when healthy. Then came the bigger splash: the Texas Rangers swung a blockbuster trade for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, sending a five-player package to the Washington Nationals in return.
Let’s start with Gore, because this one has ripple effects that go beyond just Texas. The Rangers gave up a significant haul-five of their top 20 prospects, including their No. 2 and No. 6-to land a pitcher with two years of team control and a tantalizing, if inconsistent, track record.
Gore has flashed frontline potential, earning an All-Star nod last season thanks to a strong first half. But the second half told a different story, as injuries and inconsistency crept in. His career ERA sits at 4.19 across four seasons-not bad, but not quite the ace-level performance the Nationals likely envisioned when they acquired him as part of the Juan Soto deal.
Still, there’s plenty to like from Texas’ perspective. Gore has mostly stayed on the mound, and with Jacob deGrom leading the rotation (when healthy), the Rangers clearly see Gore as a key piece in their quest to defend their division crown.
The cost was steep, but that’s the going rate for controllable starting pitching these days. The Rangers are betting that Gore’s ceiling is worth the price.
For the A’s, Gore wasn’t really in the picture. Oakland’s front office has focused its offseason efforts elsewhere-second base, the bullpen-but the Gore trade does underscore a bigger point: the market for starting pitching is heating up, and the A’s still have work to do.
Right now, the rotation is long on potential but short on proven innings. Only two starters from last year’s squad topped the 100-inning mark-and one of them, JP Sears, is no longer with the team. That leaves a big gap to fill, and relying solely on internal options is a risky proposition.
Jacob Lopez is penciled in as the No. 3 starter, but he maxed out at 92 innings last year and ended the season with an elbow issue. JT Ginn and Luis Morales both showed flashes, but neither has pitched a full MLB season, and both are coming off career-high workloads.
Luis Medina is working back from Tommy John surgery. Gunnar Hoglund and Mason Barnett have talent but aren’t expected to contribute significant innings this year.
Add it all up, and the A’s are looking at a shortfall of nearly 200 innings just from the departures of Sears and Osvaldo Bido. That’s before you factor in the possibility of injuries or struggles from the current group.
It’s a long season, and depth gets tested early. If the front office doesn’t act soon, they could find themselves scrambling by June.
Fortunately, there’s still time-and options. With 20 days until pitchers and catchers report, the free agent market has several arms who may not be flashy but can provide exactly what Oakland needs: innings.
Think Chris Bassitt (a familiar face), Nick Martinez, Zack Littel, Lucas Giolito, Erick Fedde. These aren’t Cy Young contenders, but they’re professionals who take the ball every fifth day and give you a chance to win.
Bassitt, Martinez, and Littel each logged 165+ innings last season. Giolito and Fedde were just under that mark, but still reliable.
For a rotation in flux, that kind of stability is gold. And let’s be honest-any of them would immediately slide into a rotation spot for the A’s.
The Rangers saw a need and went out and addressed it. The A’s have a similar need, and the clock is ticking. There’s still time to make a move, but the longer they wait, the more likely it is that these innings-eaters sign elsewhere-and the thinner the options become.
Oakland doesn’t need a splash. They need stability. And right now, that might be the most valuable thing they can add.