Athletics named best trade fit for former All-Star starting pitcher

Jared Bloom

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Athletics named best trade fit for former All-Star starting pitcher image

The Athletics come into the offseason with some newfound hope. They are starting to lay their groundwork with their younger players, and they are quickly making a name for themselves. 

However, the club is looking to take the next step. They would love to position themselves well before the 2028 season when they make their move to Las Vegas. 

So, the club has gotten to work this offseason. They acquired Mark Leiter Jr. On a one-year deal, traded for Jeff McNeil, and signed Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year extension. But the club may not be done yet. 

MORE: Yankees named best trade fit for former Padres starting pitcher

Athletics named best trade fit for former All-Star starting pitcher 

One thing the A's could use still is another frontline starting pitcher to pair with Luis Severino. There are quite a few options on the open market, but Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly believes that trading for Pablo Lopez would be an excellent move. 

"[The A's] pitching is a long way away, which is partially due to the fact that Sutter Health Park proved to be a bandbox. But while the Athletics can hope Luis Severino improves at home and Jeffrey Springs gets better results, they still need some more manpower. Lopez gives them just that, and if he is able to pitch 180-plus innings as he did every year from 2022-2024, the $53.5 million he's due over the next two seasons is actually more than fair."

Acquiring Lopez would potentially give the A's an innings-eater as an ace with a fair contract. He would instantly improve the rotation.

This move would be a wake-up call to the league that the A's are not messing around anymore. They have a vision for their organization and where they want to be over the next few years, and will do all they can to make that happen. 

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Editorial Team