Introduction
The Oakland Athletics are currently slogging through a horrible season, carrying a record of 31-60 with two games remaining before the All-Star break this week. Although they started out the year all-right, the team’s June swoon (5-21 record) killed their faint hopes of competing. Now, the A’s, owners of the worst record in the American League, sit almost 30 games back of the first place Houston Astros and have a legit shot at matching or surpassing the franchise’s 1979 squad that lost a 162-game season franchise record 108 games. However, always the optimist when it comes to my beloved A’s, there is a tiny bright spot with the team performing a bit better as of late, going 5-5 in their past ten games. Nonetheless, with the season unsavable, following are some moves I think the team should make to salvage any positives from this season and prepare for the future.
Baseball transactions
- Release Stephen Vogt and Jed Lowrie. These guys are two of the most notable and well-liked players to wear the green and gold over this past decade. Stephen Vogt is such a fan-favorite that A’s fans made the chant “I believe in Stephen Vogt”. Lowrie, who has returned to the A’s a couple times after being traded away, used to provide average defense and reliable hitting. In 2017, he set the A’s record for most doubles in a season. Yet, both Vogt and Lowrie are now in their late 30’s, not as good as they once were, and serve no purpose for this rebuilding team.
- Releasing Vogt would allow the A’s to call up catcher Shea Langeliers, their top prospect whom they received in the Matt Olson trade and is just about ready for his Major-League debut. In fact, he is playing in the Futures game today alongside other top baseball prospects. I would also recall Cristian Pache (the other big name in the Olson trade) soon with the hope that his recent offensive performance at Triple-A will carry over to the big-leagues to match his defensive prowess.
- Decide what to do about veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus who triggers a $15 million option for next season if he accumulates 550 at-bats. He is currently half-way there. He seems to bring a good attitude along with veteran experience, and he has been relatively solid both offensively and defensively. However, at age 33, it might be time to let him go and invest the resources (which Fisher seems so unlikely to part with) in younger talent. Speaking of which, I would continue giving Nick Allen playing time as he is outstanding defensively at both shortstop and second base and shows some offensive ability. Although he has been doing a good job at 2nd, he could replace Andrus as the starting shortstop starting next season.
- Trade at least Frankie Montas by the August 2nd trade deadline to fully complete the roster teardown. With the A’s out of contention, teams will be lining up to try to trade for the A’s ace pitcher provided that his shoulder injury doesn’t cause him to miss any more time. A’s President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane should try to get as many top prospects as possible for him and any other traded player. For instance, he might consider Dodgers pitching prospect Bobby Miller or Cardinals prospect Michael Mcgreevy
Non-baseball transactions
- The majority of home games are 95% empty as no-one goes to see this losing stripped down team play in the decrepit Oakland Coliseum. So, lower the cost of tickets and parking and maybe more people will attend games. Regarding the new stadium project at Howard Terminal, A’s ownership should do whatever it takes to come to an agreement with Oakland leadership so that this historic franchise can stay in Oakland forever.
- Speaking of A’s ownership, owner John Fisher is a super private person who won’t talk to the media, spend money to retain key players, or even partake in the Howard Terminal meetings alongside team President Dave Kaval. In the meantime, Joe Lacob, the super successful owner of the NBA team Golden State Warriors, apparently has a standing offer to buy the A’s. I, and many other A’s fans, wish that Fisher would sell the team to Lacob or any other person who is more willing to invest in the team on and off the field. Unfortunately, Fisher doesn’t seem to be in the mood to sell, therefore the A’s will likely continue to just be the farm team for every other MLB club for the time being
