TL;DR
- Rookies Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Nick Kurtz had outstanding seasons for the Athletics.
- Nick Kurtz won AL Rookie of the Year, beating out Jacob Wilson and Roman Anthony.
- The Athletics need to strengthen their pitching staff this offseason, both starters and relievers.
- The team may be more aggressive this offseason, potentially targeting pitchers like Ranger Suarez.
The Athletics have been quietly laying their foundation over the last few years. However, things really took a turn this past season as the rookies stepped up.
Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Nick Kurtz are all concluding outstanding seasons. MLB Pipeline's 2025 All-Rookie Team included both Wilson and Kurtz, but Kurtz received additional accolades.
AL's Rookie of the Year was recently awarded to him, narrowly beating out Wilson and Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony. This organization is beginning to see a shift, and they've got an excellent chance to capitalize on it during the upcoming offseason.
The Athletics are heading into their break with a significant question on everyone's thoughts.
The Athletics typically don't pursue aggressive offseason moves. They're usually the club inclined to trade any player for a solid return, but this offseason might be different.
This offseason, the team must strengthen its pitching staff, both for relief appearances and as starters. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller raises the question of how proactive they'll be and whether this is the period they'll advance.
"Are they going to risk letting this window pass them by and wait until two years from now when they're in Las Vegas to really invest in the roster?"
Now is an excellent moment to invest in the team that's beginning to form. They have numerous top-tier pitchers they could acquire to complement Luis Severino.
ESPN's Jeff Passan proposed targeting Ranger Suarez, noting his abilities might suit the pitcher-unfriendly environment of the Sacramento ballpark. Securing a player of that caliber would strengthen the rotation and signal to the fans a genuine commitment to the team's on-field performance.
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- Athletics could shock everyone by signing this top arm in free agency, per ESPN insider
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