This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Coming off a second consecutive 100-loss season, the A’s enter this offseason looking to structure a roster that can take a big step forward in what will be year three of a rebuild.
Off the field, this winter could also bring a major decision regarding the future home of the club after a longstanding stadium saga.
Here are five questions the A’s face this offseason:
Where will the A’s be playing home games beyond next season?
After receiving approval from the Nevada Legislature for funding toward a new ballpark earlier this year, the A’s are expected to submit their official relocation application to the relocation committee appointed by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in time for a vote during the upcoming Owners Meetings in November to approve a move to Las Vegas.
That application is expected to address the issue of where the A’s would call home until the potential new stadium gets built. As it currently stands, the team’s lease with the Oakland Coliseum runs through the 2024 season. Possible scenarios that have been floated around range from extending the lease at the Coliseum to playing home games at Oracle Park in San Francisco or Las Vegas Ballpark, which is the home of the Las Vegas Aviators, Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate.
How will they approach free agency?
The A’s saw some encouraging glimpses of a brighter future through a wave of their young talent that reached the Majors in 2023. That said, after losing 112 games, general manager David Forst indicated that the club could look at avenues to add experience to a mostly young roster.
“I do think we need to continue to add to this roster in order to have success at the Major League level,” Forst said. “I’m not interested in blocking anyone’s development or progress. … We don’t plan on going into 2024 with exactly what was on the 26-man roster to end the season.”
What role awaits Mason Miller?
After returning in September from an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow that kept him out of action for nearly four months, the A’s carved out an ideal role for Miller -- Oakland’s top overall pitching prospect -- by pitching every fifth day on a limited workload of around 50 pitches. Of course, such a situation is not likely to be a sustainable option with a 13-man pitching staff over a full season. Between his triple-digits fastball and devastating slider, Miller has all the makings of a frontline starter. But his immense potential comes with lingering injury concerns. The A’s will need to determine whether Miller can hold up as a starter or might be better served as a high-leverage reliever.
Is there a chance Tony Kemp returns?
One of the last remaining pieces from Oakland’s previous playoff-contending clubs, Kemp served as a valuable leader inside a young and inexperienced A’s clubhouse. Now the team’s only player entering free agency, Kemp has expressed a desire to return to Oakland, where his impact off the field has been just as great as he was recognized as the A’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee for a fourth consecutive season. But with younger options on the roster at both left field and second base, it remains to be seen if the A’s have an available spot for Kemp.
What will the starting rotation look like?
Paul Blackburn and JP Sears are likely locks for the Opening Day rotation based on performance. The list of internal options for the other three spots includes Miller, Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina, Joe Boyle, Joey Estes, Freddy Tarnok, Adrián Martínez and James Kaprielian.