Happy February A’s fans.
While the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics are sure to generate most of the immediate sports headlines, we’d be remiss not mention that baseball is back this month!
Athletics’ pitchers
and catchers must report to Spring Training on February 12. The team will hold its first full-squad workout just a few days later on Monday, February 17 and then open its preseason schedule against the Chicago White Sox on the 21st.
With only a couple of weeks left before the team assembles in Arizona, time is ticking for the A’s to improve their pitching staff. Scoring runs should not be a problem for the A’s this season. The team’s starting lineup from last season returns, including Nick Kurtz who enters his first full season fresh off a historic award-winning rookie campaign. The lone newcomer is Jeff McNeil, who the team acquired from the New York Mets to provide more production and stability at second base.
Last year, the team’s pitching held them back from winning more games. A’s pitchers allowed too many runs, especially during the team’s home games in Sacramento. Pitching was the A’s biggest need this offseason, yet so far the team has only signed relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr.
Luis Severino, who will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this Spring, returns to anchor the rotation. Luis Morales has breakout potential in his first full-season. Left-handed pitchers Gage Jump, Jamie Arnold and Wei-En Lin are three of the A’s best minor-league prospects. All three have the potential to join Morales in the A’s rotation in the near future, yet it’s unwise for the team to waste another year of this impressive offensive core waiting for them to impact the club.
Right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen is still unsigned and could drastically raise this rotation’s ceiling if he bounces back from a disappointing 2025. However, signing him means the A’s would forfeit a valuable draft pick due to Gallen declining a qualifying offer.
If they decide that Gallen is too expensive or not worth the draft pick loss, then a reunion with Chris Bassitt could make sense as would Lucas Giolito or Zack Littell. Additionally, the A’s could benefit from taking a flier on Michael Kopech to boost a bullpen that projects to once again go closer by committee.
Have a good Tuesday everyone!
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics Sign Jacob Wilson to Extension
- Athletics Community Prospect List: Nett Just Inches Out Bolte For Sixth Spot
- Extensions For Everyone! (Except Kurtz)
- Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts
- De Vries (No. 4 overall) leads Athletics trio on Top 100 Prospects list
- A’s Spring Training Report Date, and everything you need to know
- After monster stats as rookie, Nick Kurtz has a new number in mind: 162
- Projecting Nick Kurtz after Rookie of the Year campaign
- Analysts say this A’s outfielder could follow Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakout path
- Two players the A’s can steal from the Colorado Rockies
- A’s prospect Mason Barnett has an atypical arm angle and an old school approach
- Blogfather Sabatoges Own Wins Over Replacement Hip (And A’s Stuff)
MLB News and Interest:
- Mariners acquire Brendan Donovan in trade with Cardinals
- Luis Arraez, Giants Reportedly Agree to Contract in MLB Free Agency
- Shohei Ohtani Won’t Pitch at 2026 World Baseball Classic
- NBA, MLB, NHL, WWE, Major Sports Leagues to Join NFL in Wearing ‘USA 250’ Uniform Patches
- Red Sox Trade Jordan Hicks to White Sox
- Why Francisco Lindor, Jose Altuve, More MLB Players Can’t Play in 2026 World Baseball Classic
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Looks like the A’s have work left to do this offseason to improve their roster.
Yesterday, the A’s officially announced Jacob Wilson’s contract extension.
For anyone seeking to understand the situation at the Oakland Coliseum.
Thank you for reading my first Elephant Rumblings post! My name is Ben Wiley. I have been an A’s fan my whole life and now look forward to bringing you coverage of a team that has the talent to surprise people this year. Which pitcher(s) do you think the A’s should sign or trade for to improve their chances of contending this season?
