The A’s got a much-needed break on Monday after grinding through 13 consecutive days with a game, finishing at 7-6 in that span. The players will try to get baseball off their minds for a day as they recharge, but there will be no rest for Oakland general manager David Forst from now until Wednesday’s 1 p.m. PT Trade Deadline.

“We still have other conversations going on. Something is going to have to give between now and Wednesday,” Forst said. “I think most of us need to be faced with a deadline to make decisions. You see it in the offseason with free agency and now with the Trade Deadline. I think there’s a chance Wednesday morning is a pretty exciting few hours.”

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The direction the A’s are going is clear. Having already pulled off trades for starter Homer Bailey and left-handed reliever Jake Diekman this month, and entering Monday’s slate of games in control of the second American League Wild Card spot, Forst and executive vice president Billy Beane will look to continue to buy. But what area will they address next?

Here are four questions facing Oakland ahead of the Deadline:

Will the A’s make a play for Noah Syndergaard?

The A’s are still in the market for pitching, whether it be in the rotation or bullpen, and the obvious big prize at this year’s Deadline appears to be the Mets right-hander.

All signs point to Syndergaard being available, with MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reporting that the Mets and Padres remained in discussions for the starter as of Sunday night.

The Mets acquired Marcus Stroman, the other big trade target this July, from the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon in exchange for two pitching prospects not ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100. Stroman is a good comparison for the value Syndergaard would bring, but the big difference between the two is that Syndergaard has two years of team control beyond this season, as opposed to Stroman’s one.

If the Mets were to ask for one of pitchers Jesus Luzardo or A.J. Puk, the A’s No. 1 and 2 prospects who are both ranked in the top 100 by MLB Pipeline, one would assume that’s a deal breaker. But as we saw in 2014 with the trade for Jon Lester, Beane and Co. are not afraid to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal if they feel it can help them make a deep playoff run.

Of course, there are other starters Oakland could go after. According to a report from MLB Network Insider Ken Rosenthal, Zack Wheeler and Tanner Roark are among the arms on the A’s radar as they explore the market for starting pitching.

Do the A’s add another reliever?

The arrival of Diekman should help in the late innings, but is that enough?

The 20 blown saves by the A’s bullpen are the most in the AL. Even All-Star closer Liam Hendriks has been shaky the past week, blowing two of his past three save opportunities. While Oakland expects underperformers Blake Treinen and Lou Trivino to get back on track at some point in the second half, the addition of one more big arm is likely at the top of the wish list.

With a group of relievers expected to be moved by Wednesday -- featuring names like Ken Giles, Shane Greene and Kirby Yates -- the A’s should have no shortage of options.

Of course, Oakland also expects to get a boost in the bullpen from within with Puk, who is currently making the temporary switch to reliever with Triple-A Las Vegas as he returns from Tommy John surgery.

“He’s pitched great every time out. His velocity is up to 96-97 mph. We will continue to let his elbow and how he feels dictate his schedule,” Forst said of Puk. “Hopefully at some point we get him to where he’s pitching on one day rest. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be an option for us here sometime soon.”

Would the A’s and the Giants be willing to work together on a deal?

Though they play about 15 miles apart from each other and are separated by a bridge, the action between the A’s and Giants has been nonexistent when it comes to trades. Dec. 4, 1990, was the last time the two sides came together on a deal, with Darren Lewis going to the Giants in exchange for Ernie Riles. But there’s reason to believe San Francisco and Oakland would make for good trade partners this season.

Even with the Giants suddenly appearing to be contenders for a National League Wild Card spot, they still have an abundance of relievers, such as left-hander Will Smith and right-hander Sam Dyson. San Francisco is said to be looking for offense, of which the A’s have plenty built up throughout their Minor League system.

The other factor in play here is new Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who began his baseball career working under Beane and Forst in the A’s front office.

Speaking to reporters following the trade for Diekman on Saturday, Forst was asked if he’d been in contact at all with Zaidi in recent weeks. Oakland’s GM smiled, paused for a few seconds, and replied, “Yes,” followed by a quick, “Next question.”

Could the A’s go after a position player?

The A’s believe they possess one of the most dangerous lineups in the league with power threats up and down the order, but the production at second base has hit a bit of a wall recently.

Jurickson Profar has encountered some issues trying to make routine throws on defense, while Franklin Barreto has struggled to run with the everyday job, batting .114 over 44 at-bats. The trade market is heavy on pitching, but Oakland could be monitoring for a veteran infielder who could bring stability to the position.