MLB news roundup
Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!
The A’s have wisely continued acquiring pitching this offseason, following the splashy free agent signing of Luis Severino with a trade acquisition from fellow stadium-woe-sufferers the Tampa Bay Rays to add more depth to the A’s rotation. Connor Ashford and Nico have details and analysis on the A’s newest starting pitcher, Jeffrey Springs.
Meanwhile, significant holes in the A’s defense persist, as the team is widely seen to be in need of solid options at center field and third base, and one of the A’s more viable options at the hot corner may have been taken off the table over the weekend.
While it’s very unlikely the A’s will have a third baseman as good as Alex Bregman in 2025, the “ick” factor in imagining the longtime Astro in green and gold is prohibitive enough on its own, setting aside the sheer unlikelihood of luring a high-profile free agent like Bregman or Nolan Arenado to West Sacramento.
The A’s will likely have to settle for something a bit closer to replacement-level. The Phillies are willing to deal Alex Bohm, typically a pretty average third baseman whose 2024 performance won an All-Star nod, perhaps signaling a leveling up. Apparently, that door has already open and shut as Ken Rosenthal at the Athletic reported that the A’s inquired with the Phillies and were quoted a price of one Mason Miller.
At this point, the best thing to hope for may be someone truly remarkably average—and The Blogfather has just the player to fit that mold. I was truly amazed to learn just how incredibly and improbably absolutely average Gio Urshela is. The 33-year-old free agent may not be the most exciting option, but Urshela certainly isn’t average in terms of consistency, which is always a valuable trait.
No matter what, the A’s are going to have to field nine players come next spring, just like everyone else; it will be interesting to see who ultimately fills the gaps that remain.
Have a terrific week, AN.
Roster moves.
LHP Jeffrey Springs/LHP Jacob Lopez to A’s for Joe Boyle/Jacob Watters/Will Simpson/Comp Balance pick, RHP Noah Murdock to A’s in Rule-5 draft, RHP Henry Gomez to LV in Rule-5 draft, A’s lose C.Bowman/J.Winkler/F.DeLaRosa/G.Rodriguez in Rule-5 Draft…https://t.co/joKXkyUAPy
— Athletics Farm (@AthleticsFarm) December 15, 2024
Witt in the middle of it all.
"That's *Hall of Famer* Joe Mauer, to you!" —Minnesota, probably pic.twitter.com/6Gtqjmh1kB
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) December 15, 2024
He’s literally big everywhere, but I hope Kyle becomes figuratively big in Japan.
The Chunichi Dragons are signing former Athletic LHP Kyle Muller.
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) December 15, 2024
Muller, 27, was a key piece in a trade that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta in 2022.
He had a 4.01 ERA / 3.96 FIP in 49.1 IP with Oakland last season.
https://t.co/BE2nWjpeuL
