The first half of the 2025 season can be viewed in three segments for the Athletics.
On May 13, the A’s were 22-20, hanging tough and well within striking distance of first place in the American League West. Then came a dreadful 1-20 skid from May 14-June 4 that seriously dampened previous high hopes of possibly competing for a playoff spot. Since then, however, they have again held steady at 18-17 since June 5, entering the All-Star break with an overall record of 41-57.
"We’ve played a lot better baseball,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We should be looking at this second half as an opportunity to keep growing, keep building and keep winning series. We’ll come out of the break with a commitment to really continuing our progress and how we’ve been playing.”
The positive takeaway lies in the young core that has been identified, led by rookie sensations Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz, as well as Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom. Team leader Brent Rooker also earned an All-Star selection along with Wilson on the strength of a consistent first half that ended with him mashing 20 home runs and earning a spotlight in the Home Run Derby.
Here is a midseason report on the 2025 A’s:
One second half goal: Continue the development process
The A’s have bounced back from a brutal stretch by going 18-17 since June 5. Beyond the record, though, the focus for the second half will be to continue developing the young talent on this roster, including Wilson, Kurtz, Soderstrom, Butler and Max Muncy, all of whom are going through what is essentially their first full season in the big leagues.
Likely Trade Deadline strategy: Light sellers
The A’s are not ready to completely dismiss the playoffs yet, but that ugly stretch earlier this season likely zapped those chances. Still, even as potential sellers, they have no plans of breaking up the talented young core they have currently growing at the big league level. Instead, they would likely move veterans on one-year deals such as Luis Urías, Gio Urshela and Miguel Andujar. Jeffrey Springs is perhaps another possibility, depending on what teams are offering in return.
Key player: RHP Luis Severino
Simply put, a 5.16 ERA -- the third highest among qualified MLB starters -- through 20 starts is not what the A’s anticipated when they signed him to the largest free-agent contract in franchise history this offseason. The expectation was that he would settle in as their No. 1 starter. Instead, he’s performed as their worst rotation member to this point.
Severino said he felt encouraged by his plan of attack in his final start before the break, which could key his turnaround.
Prospect to watch: LHP Gage Jump (ATH No. 1/MLB No. 67)
The A’s No. 1 prospect ranking by MLB Pipeline previously occupied by Kurtz before he graduated is now held by Jump, and with good reason. The 22-year-old broke through MLB’s Top 100 list on the strength of a dominant debut season. He started out at High-A Lansing, where he posted a 2.32 ERA in six games (five starts) with 45 strikeouts across 31 innings, then earned a promotion to Double-A Midland, where he’s pitched even better, recording a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts with 52 strikeouts across 49 1/3 innings.
With 98 games in the books, here’s a look ahead to the final stretch of the 2025 campaign for the A’s.
- Games remaining: 64 (Home, 30; Away, 34)
- Remaining strength of schedule: .508, 11th in MLB, sixth in AL, second in AL West
Key Series
- Aug. 1-3: Three games against the D-backs, Denzel Clarke matches up against his cousin, Josh Naylor
- Sept. 19-21: Three-game series at Pittsburgh, homecoming for Pittsburgh native Mason Miller and Wilson’s first trip to the city where his father Jack was an All-Star shortstop for the Pirates
- Sept. 26-28: Three games vs. Royals, the last chance to catch the A’s at Sutter Health Park this season.