Too bad the crossroads seem to overlook a cliff on all sides, but which way do you want to go? This reminds me of a trip to Europe years ago in which Siri instructed, calmly, “turn left”. Only we were driving on a mountain road and for as long as the eye could see a left turn sent you plunging off a cliff down a steep embankment. I bring this up because had I just followed Siri’s guidance I would not have had to endure this 3-18 stretch on the heels of a 1-20 free fall last season.
But here we are, alive in some technical sense and wondering which way to turn as the team faces a double-digit losing streak capped by a downright embarrassing 23-4 loss.
I think the absurdity of the A’s pitching failures are summed up by Johnny Doskow’s note on the radio last night when he said, “The 23 runs given up ties a season high for the A’s.” Ties. Not in literally the last 71 years has a team been able to say that — oh and in 1955 it was the Kansas City A’s.
I could emphasize the level of quagmire the A’s are in with stats, but that would be wantonly cruel. OK fine, I will. The A’s now have a home ERA of 6.63 and have surrendered 97 HR in 48 games. They are 15-27 (.357) in West Sacramento. Their -125 run differential is the only one in negative triple digits. Over their past 15 games the A’s are 1-14. Since July 1st they have held a lead for 6 pitches.
But the question in front of the A’s right now, besides “How do we outscore our opponent for a night, or at least for 7 pitches?”, is what direction to go as a team that thought it had transitioned from “rebuild” to “ competitive” only to find itself with the 3rd worst record in the American League?
Option 1 is to attribute much of the problem to injuries, and wait for key players such as Nick Kurtz and Zack Gelof to return, and to hope some of the pitchers like Jacob Lopez, Jeffrey Springs, and maybe at some point Luis Morales, can revert back to their 2025 selves or better.
This is a naive and terrible option, as what has become glaring is that right now the A’s are not 1 starting pitcher, 1 reliever, or 1 position player away from being contenders. Getting guys back will certainly help a lot, but the A’s have gotten to the point where “much improved” would be to go 7-8 instead of 1-14, for the pitchers to give up 5 runs in a game instead of the 8+ they allow 41.6% of the time at home (yes, folks, 20 times in 48 tries).
Option 2 is not just to sell, but to try to sell pieces at the deadline that can bring back a meaningful return. The A’s are in the unfortunate position where most of their players are either essential core pieces or have little trade value due to contract or performance.
The closest thing to a possible “sweet spot” exception is Shea Langeliers, whose name has begun to be bandied about in online trade rumors — but not ones coming from reliable inside sources, just internet chat buzz at this point. There is also a prevailing sense that even if the A’s were open to trading Langeliers the best time to do it would be the off-season, not the trading deadline.
That being said, given that the A’s — still with plenty of their players healthy — are not 38-38 but rather 41-56 and sinking fast with abominable pitching, I think the A’s probably do need to listen on Langeliers especially were a deal to fall into their lap in which they could procure a decent replacement catcher and a top young pitching prospect.
It’s hard to know who is looking for what and then which players they would be willing to move, not to mention which players the A’s scouts believe in as trade targets. So it’s generally foolish for fans to sit suggesting specific deals, but I will offer examples of possible frameworks.
If the White Sox came calling ready to deal Kyle Teel and Hagen Smith (the #5 overall pick in 2024) that might be a worthwhile conversation. Same if the Red Sox came calling offering Carlos Narvaez and Connelly Early (whose current IL stint with elbow inflammation might make him a riskier get but also a more possible one). So there are frameworks and specific players who could make sense — but there truly are not many.
As far as other possible trade chips that could bring back value, it doesn’t help that Henry Bolte’s fast start has been followed by a stat-wrecking funk on both sides of the ball, that Lawrence Butler continues to wade in the waters of the Mendoza line, that Jacob Wilson has not been able to stay healthy, or that Colby Thomas’ many shortcomings have been soundly exposed.
Option 3 is probably the most likely one and that is some tepid moves at the deadline that don’t move the needle unless some prospect breaks out far more than expected. Mark Leiter Jr. might draw interest, but the return is not going to be much. The same is true of Jonah Heim, whose most recent transaction was to be dealt for cash.
Option 4 probably came and went with the All-Star break, at least until the off-season, and that is to clean house of more than just one pitching coach and bring new voices and leadership to a still talented group that has veered off course like Columbus trying to find Asia with a broken compass and plays a generally undisciplined and not fundamentally sound brand of baseball.
The front office seems strangely forgiving of and committed to a band of coaches/manager who are best known for epic skids of 21 games and an ability to adjust. Perhaps a lack of sufficient talent on the field, partly due to injuries, is to blame — that seems to be the common refrain. But its mid-July and the quality of at bats, pitch selection and execution, fundamentals, and ability to stop the bleeding has not improved and this should not be summarily excused.
2026 will mark the 5th consecutive season the A’s have fallen out of contention by the All-Star break, and this year it was hard to do given that the AL West leader is 1 game over .500 while 48-48 gets you the 3rd wild card spot.
Without question the plan has been for the A’s to contend in 2027 and so the question becomes: how would you proceed in the next couple weeks in order to further that goal? And then again in the 0ff-season? The team may be at a crossroads, and every turn may take you off a cliff, but the A’s have to do something (doing nothing qualifies as something) and the next test of a chosen direction will be the August 3rd trading deadline.
Got any great ideas?
Read the full article here