The A’s may look like a mess from the outside, but that doesn’t make the front office opening any less attractive. In fact, there’s a strong case that the next general manager is stepping into one of the more intriguing jobs in baseball.
Yes, the club is grinding through a season that has been epically disappointing, and yes, the A’s are closing in on 100 losses if they’re not careful. But a GM looking at the bigger picture sees something else entirely: a franchise on the verge of a reset.
The biggest draw is obvious. A new stadium is coming, along with a new city location, and that usually brings the kind of energy and financial opportunity every front office wants.
Maybe there’s healthy skepticism about how Las Vegas will embrace the A’s. Maybe some of those fans will be tourists rooting for the other team.
Maybe the building won’t be packed every night. Still, it’s hard to imagine attendance not jumping well beyond what the A’s drew in Oakland and Sacramento, if only because those numbers were so low.
Then there’s the roster, and this is where the job gets even more interesting. The A’s do have a young core worth building around, even with the usual flaws and uncertainty that come with a group this early in its development.
Nick Kurtz is already viewed as a star. Jacob Wilson has started an All-Star game.
Shea Langeliers, who posted 3.6 fWAR in 2025, is considered one of the league’s best catchers. Lawrence Butler and Zack Gelof have both flashed real upside in stretches, Henry Bolte has star potential, and Brent Rooker is under contract for several more seasons.
There’s more on the way, too. Leo De Vries is expected to debut sometime in 2027 and be ready to hit the ground running by the start of 2028. On the pitching side, there’s still work to do, but Gage Jump, JT Ginn and Jacob Lopez are in the mix, Jamie Arnold is coming, and Wei-En Lin is expected back healthy by the time the A’s open their new stadium.
That’s the kind of foundation a lot of GMs would love to inherit. Sure, it may take some changes in coaching and development to get the most out of it, but that’s exactly the sort of challenge a new top executive can shape in his own image.
The other part of this conversation is the money, and the idea that owner Fisher simply won’t spend doesn’t hold up here. Fisher may have been cheap in ugly ways at times, but he is also putting out well over $1B to finish the stadium. And on the baseball side, the evidence says he is allowing real investment: Luis Severino’s $67M deal, multiple extensions worth tens of millions apiece, and a payroll that is climbing.
That trend figures to continue as the A’s try to build excitement for 2028.
Are there better jobs in MLB? Probably.
Are there worse ones? Absolutely.
But the A’s are not near the bottom of the list. They sit somewhere above the middle, and if this team can get to 2027 healthy and supported by more spending on both the roster and player development, the upside starts to look real.
With 2028 and beyond in view, the next GM has a chance to help shape a franchise that wants to feel proud again. And very soon.
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 🡒]
Lawrence Butlers Surge Is Creating As Roster Pressure Fast
In a season defined by injuries and shifting opportunities, Lawrence Butler has turned one of the As few bright spots into a real roster question. The extra playing time opened by all the churn has helped create chances for younger players like Henry Bolte and JT Ginn, but Butler has been the one pushing hardest for a larger role as Oakland sorts through what it actually has in the outfield.
His recent surge has changed the conversation from simple evaluation to how the As can fit everyone in once the roster starts getting healthier and more settled. With the club already thinking about future configuration and the possibility of trade chatter around the outfield mix, Butlers rise adds urgency to decisions that were already coming. The longer he keeps forcing the issue, the harder it gets for Oakland to keep treating his role as a temporary one. [Read more 🡒]