Who could A's target to bolster bullpen this offseason?

Following their blockbuster deal with the Padres at the 2025 Trade Deadline that sent Mason Miller and JP Sears to San Diego for a package headlined by super prospect Leo De Vries, the Athletics took a “strength in numbers” approach to their closer role.

There was no replacing Miller, an All-Star and one of the most electric arms in the game. Instead, multiple pitchers stepped up, with relievers such as Hogan Harris, Michael Kelly, Tyler Ferguson, Sean Newcomb and Justin Sterner forming a group that chipped in for late-inning duties and helped the A’s finish strong with a 34-24 stretch to end the season.

Since the closer-by-committee method worked well enough over the second half, the A’s could opt to enter 2026 operating the bullpen in a similar way. Ideally, though, they would probably like to add a reliever with some closing experience to the mix. They attempted to do so by signing José Leclerc to a one-year, $10 million deal last offseason, though a shoulder injury that ultimately resulted in surgery limited him to just 10 games pitched.

“I think we’ll be opportunistic when it comes to the bullpen,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “It’s not an easy area to figure out in the offseason. We’ve seen that. These things kind of get figured out on the fly.

“I think bullpens are sort of created organically. We will certainly look for talent out there on the free-agent or trade market. But it’s nice to know there’s a lot of experience coming back.”

Harris, Kelly, Ferguson and Sterner remain under contract, though Newcomb is now a free agent and figures to be in high demand as a left-hander who can go multiple innings.

Here’s a look at some free agents who could be a good fit to join that bullpen group:

RHP Luke Weaver
Age: 32
2024 regular-season stats: 64 games, 3.62 ERA, eight saves, 72 K, 20 BB, 64 2/3 IP

Weaver was less effective as the season went on, going from a 1.05 ERA in his first 24 outings over the first two months to a 5.31 ERA over his final 40 appearances after returning from a left hamstring strain that kept him out for three weeks. Weaver also struggled a bit in the postseason, but his success over the past two seasons makes him an attractive option with plenty of experience closing and pitching in big games.

RHP Pete Fairbanks
Age: 32
2024 regular-season stats: 61 games, 2.83 ERA, 27 saves, 59 K, 18 BB, 60 1/3 IP

Fairbanks may not get his fastball up to 99 mph like he once did earlier in his career, but the heater still sits around 97 to go with a plus slider. His strikeout rates have dropped a fair amount over the past couple of seasons, but he’s remained a steady, reliable late-inning reliever for most of his seven-year big league career.

RHP Kyle Finnegan
Age: 34
2024 regular-season stats: 56 games, 3.47 ERA, 24 saves, 55 K, 18 BB, 57 IP

Reunion time? The A’s originally drafted Finnegan in 2013, though the right-hander never reached the big leagues with the club and left via free agency after the 2019 season. Since then, he’s emerged as a solid relief arm with 112 saves under his belt, most of those coming with the Nationals before getting dealt to the Tigers at this year’s Trade Deadline.

RHP Devin Williams
Age: 31
2024 regular-season stats: 67 games, 4.79 ERA, 18 saves, 90 K, 25 BB, 62 IP

This one might be a long shot, but Williams could be a fit for the A’s on a one-year, prove-it deal as he looks to rebuild his value after a rough season with the Yankees that saw him lose the closer’s role a couple of times throughout the year. He would immediately give the A’s an established closer who was one of the best in the game not long ago, posting a 1.66 ERA from 2022-24.