Welcome to Friday A’s fans!
With just three games remaining in the regular season, this seems like an appropriate time to reflect on an Athletics season that began with promise before a rash of injuries and a league-worst pitching staff contributed to another summer collapse.
Making matters worse is the fact that the 2026 American League West was the worst division in MLB history. Either the Houston Astros or Texas Rangers will win the division and play in the playoffs despite finishing the season
with at best a .500 record. As a result, this year will go down as a missed opportunity for the A’s to be involved in a postseason race, something the franchise has yet to experience under manager Mark Kotsay.
However, given the pitching staff Kotsay had at his disposal, it was not surprising that the A’s finished the season with the league’s second-worst ERA and allowed the second-most runs, behind only the Colorado Rockies. Additionally, the Green and Gold allowed the most home runs and posted the league’s second-worst WHIP.
Right-hander Luis Severino earned $22 million to make 12 starts before missing the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, while fellow veteran Jeffrey Springs allowed more home runs than any other pitcher. J.T. Ginn and Gage Jump at least showed flashes of promise, giving the team two rotation building blocks. Whoever the A’s new pitching coach is will need to help right-hander Luis Morales get back on track after his significant regression this season.
The A’s league-worst bullpen comprising many waiver-wire arms also failed to consistently retire opposing batters, resulting in outfielder Carlos Cortes pitching in nine blowout losses. Outside of Hogan Harris and Luis Medina, the team needs relievers it can trust. That is why the new general manager should prioritize acquiring bullpen reinforcements, along with at least one starting pitcher, this winter.
The A’s offense should be fine, provided the injury bug does not bite again. In fact, the unit provided some of the best moments of the 2026 season, from dramatic comebacks to breakout performances and unexpected contributors.
Rookie Henry Bolte looks like the answer to the A’s center field and leadoff hitter questions, while versatile Zack Gelof shrugged off injuries to enjoy a resurgent career-best season. Now if only right fielder Lawrence Butler could stay consistent for a whole season instead of waiting until the team is out of contention to start performing better.
What was your favorite moment from 2026? Which players lived up to expectations and who underperformed? Will the Athletics get one final season in Sacramento, or will the lockout derail the 2027 campaign?
A’s Coverage:
- Astros Outpower A’s 7-5 to Win Series Opener
- A’s Beat Angels 7-3
- A’s Rally Late for Dramatic 9-7 Victory Over the Angels
- ‘Road Trip Mike’ on the move to wherever his beloved A’s go
- Wheat/Chaff Updates As Season Winds Down
- Paralyzed A’s prospect Lasko released from rehab facility to ovation from staff
- Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
- Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
- Notes From Star-Studded Rockies-A’s Instructional League
- Injuries Out Of Control, But Why?
- 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Billy Beane comments on the job Mark Kotsay has done this season.
- What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
MLB News & Interest:
- 40-40 for PCA! Cubs superstar 7th player to join exclusive club
- White Sox clinch playoff berth after three straight 100-loss seasons
- Bracket, tiebreakers and more: Here is the current playoff picture
- Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer: Announcement on future coming
- Bonkers stats that have defined the 2026 season
- Full final 2026 regular-season grades for all 30 MLB teams
- Doval rejoins Giants after being claimed on waivers
- Phillies’ Arraez, chasing batting title, exits with sprained ankle
- Ohtani activated, returns to champs’ lineup — but not at leadoff
- Judge says he intends to be available for AL Wild Card Series
- Braves activate set-up man Suarez, target 2 appearances ahead of playoffs
- Mets To Hire Derek Falvey For Front Office Role
- Sunday’s Cubs-Red Sox game moved; clubs to play split doubleheader Friday
- Jackson Holliday To Undergo Wrist Surgery
- Acuña out of lineup day after fouling ball off left shin
- Cubs expect Alex Bregman back for playoffs after foul ball to face
- Previewing The Upcoming Second Base Class
- Vlad Jr. expands on comments about his contract, disappointing season
- Nats’ Cade Cavalli gets $4M lockout-shielded signing bonus
- Rockies Outright Vimael Machín
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
This makes the A’s latest midseason collapse even more excruciating. What an awful year for the undisputed worst division in the league.
Good question to ponder heading into the long offseason.
Will actor/comedian Ken Jeong and his Korean investment group help make the Athletics more successful in their upcoming Las Vegas era?
The Athletics Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, lost the final two games of the best-of three-Pacific Coast League Championship series.
