Oakland Athletics Esteury Ruiz rounds the bases after hitting a solo residence run in opposition to the Colorado Rockies in the course of the second inning of a spring coaching baseball recreation, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Picture/Matt York)

(Matt York / Related Press)

Progress report: Oakland Athletics

Sports activities E-newsletter

Jeff Sanders

March 12, 2024

OAKLAND ATHLETICS 2023 end: 50-112 (fifth in AL West) Supervisor: Mark Kotsay (third season, 110-214) Main the entrance workplace: David Forst, basic supervisor (ninth season)DOLLARS AND SENSE Largest luxurious tax hit: RHP Ross Stripling ($12.5 million) Prime returning place participant: 2B Zack Gelof (2.9 WAR in 2023, per fangraphs.com) Prime returning beginning pitcher: RHP Paul Blackburn (1.5 WAR) Prime returning reliever: RHP Zach Jackson (0.4 WAR)ROSTER WATCH Key additions: 3B Abraham Toro (commerce), RHP Ross Stripling (commerce), LHP Alex Wooden (commerce), RHP Trevor Gott (free agent), 3B Miguel Andujar (waivers), RHP Michael Kelly (waivers). Key losses: RHP Trevor Might (free agent), OF Tony Kemp (free agent), SS Kevin Smith (free agent), 3B Jonah Bride (commerce). Baseball America top-100 prospect(s): RHP Mason Miller (45), C Tyler Soderstrom (73), SS Jacob Wilson (76), RHP Luis Morales (79).KEEP AN EYE ON There isnt a lot to latch onto if youre an Oakland fan. The Athletics misplaced supervisor Bob Melvin to the Padres earlier than the beginning of the 2022 season, misplaced 102 video games that 12 months and a 112 video games final 12 months, the franchises worst season because it resided in Philadelphia in 1916 (117 losses). Whats a lot worse, their lease on the Oakland Coliseum expires after this season, Main League Baseballs homeowners have already accredited the transfer to Las Vegas and that metropolis isnt precisely rolling out a crimson carpet for his or her plan to open a stadium on the Strip in 2028. Two former Padres seized jobs in 2023, with middle fielder Esteury Ruiz (.654 OPS) main the AL with 67 steals and Brent Rooker (.817 OPS) blasting 30 homers in his first prolonged look within the majors. Ruiz was a part of the haul despatched to the Brewers for Josh Hader and he was finally flipped to Oakland in a three-way commerce earlier than the season. Rooker joined San Diego within the Taylor Rogers commerce in April 2022 and was traded to the Royals that summer time for a minor league catcher. The As regarded throughout the bay to buoy a rotation anchored by right-hander Paul Blackburn (4.43 ERA) and left-hander J.P. Sears (4.54 ERA), with right-hander Ross Stripling (5.36 ERA) traded from the Giants to Oakland and Giants teammate Alex Wooden (4.33 ERA) signing a one-year deal. The As rotation ranked twenty ninth within the majors in 2023 with a 5.74 ERA.

PECOTA projection: 64.1 wins

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