ORLANDO, Fla. -- The 2025 Winter Meetings were rather quiet for the Athletics from a transactional standpoint. No players were added to the Major League roster, and the biggest move directly involving them was the loss of No. 11 prospect Daniel Susac in the Rule 5 Draft.
Still, while no major official moves were made, A’s general manager David Forst laid the foundation for potential deals later this offseason, while also touching base with agents for young players currently on the roster whom the club would like to lock up with long-term deals, such as American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom.
“Those conversations are ongoing,” Forst said. “Without naming anyone in particular, we’ve made some offers. We’re having conversations while we’re here with representatives. I’m hopeful that we’ll make some progress.”
Biggest remaining needs
1. Starting pitching: While the A’s feel good about their abundance of young rotation options who either pitched in the big leagues last season or are projected to reach the Majors in 2026, Forst made it clear that the club is hoping to add a starting pitcher to a group that is very inexperienced outside of Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs. They’re unlikely to add a frontline starter, instead focusing on the several mid-rotation types available through free agency or trade.
2. Relief pitching: The A’s remain without a set closer, ending last season with a closer-by-committee formula consisting of relievers such as Hogan Harris, Elvis Alvarado, Tyler Ferguson and Michael Kelly that was rather successful in the aftermath of All-Star closer Mason Miller getting traded to the Padres in July. Signing a reliever with closing experience, such as Pete Fairbanks or Kenley Jansen, would be ideal, though any reliever with a proven track record would be a plus for a bullpen that is short on Major League experience.
3. Third base/second base: The A’s expect to have one of the better offenses in baseball next season, but if there is an upgrade on that side, second and third stand out as positions without an established starter. Both spots could be filled by internal options like Darell Hernaiz, Zack Gelof, Max Muncy and Brett Harris. Adding a second or third baseman with more experience is also something the club is exploring.
He said it
“There's a big effort there to keep this group together. There really is. And I know ownership is making that effort, which is a change. If we look at the group prior to this that came together in 2017 and '18 and '19, the resources weren't there to afford to keep that group together. I think there's a vision and a future here going forward with this group. … We're hopeful that we can get it done.” -- Manager Mark Kotsay on potentially extending more players from the A’s young core this offseason.
Draft Lottery
Different year, same frustrating fate for the A’s. Just like in 2023 and '24, they fell down in the order for the 2026 MLB Draft, coming away from the Draft Lottery on Tuesday night with the No. 8 pick despite holding the fifth-best odds to land the No. 1 overall selection.
Rule 5 Draft
The A’s knew there was a strong chance of Susac, their first-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, getting selected by a club in the Rule 5 Draft. Sure enough, the 24-year-old backstop was initially taken by the Twins fourth overall, then traded to the Giants shortly after.
Susac hit .275 with an .832 OPS, 18 homers, 19 doubles and 68 RBIs in 97 games with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025. But with Langeliers and Austin Wynns already on the big league team and 40-man roster spots at a premium, the A’s decided against protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.
“I’m always happy for a guy who gets an opportunity,” Forst said. “I talked to Daniel when we made the decision. I told him we knew this was a risk. Hopefully, he takes advantage of it.”
The A’s originally selected right-hander Ryan Watson with the eighth pick of the Rule 5 Draft, but he was traded to the Red Sox in exchange for Minor League infielder Justin Riemer, who split time last season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland and hit .231 with a .697 OPS in 82 games. Riemer, who will not be added to the A’s 40-man roster, will provide Minor League infield depth.
GM’s bottom line
Expect the A’s to ramp up free-agent and trade talks in the coming weeks. Last year, the A’s acquired Springs and Jacob Lopez, two expected members of their 2026 starting rotation, from the Rays just a few days after the Winter Meetings.
“We’re close on a couple of things,” Forst said. “We’ve certainly made progress. … I didn’t expect to be out in front of too much, but we’ve got some things that are in the works.”