This story was excerpted from Martin Gallegos's A's Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Tyler Soderstrom was the first of a few players from a talented young core the Athletics hope to lock up to long-term deals this winter. The left fielder’s seven-year contract extension was announced in a press conference last week in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, A’s general manager David Forst is working to supplement that group already in place with the right pieces that can help his club push beyond its 76-86 record from last season and contend for a playoff spot.
In attendance for Soderstrom’s press conference at the A’s Experience Center in Las Vegas, Forst made it clear what the next task on his offseason to-do list is.
“We’re still out there talking about the starting pitching market -- both free agents and trades,” Forst said during a segment on A’s Cast.
It is obvious that if the A’s are going to take that next step into contention, they will need more from their rotation. A’s starters combined for a 4.85 ERA in 2025, a mark that ranked fourth-highest in the Majors.
Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs are the only two starters on the current roster with a track record of Major League success. After those two, there is a group of promising but inexperienced arms, such as Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, J.T. Ginn and Jack Perkins.
Ideally, the A’s would like to add one more proven, experienced starter to that mix. There are plenty of options still available on the free-agent market. That group includes veterans Zack Littell, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito and Nick Martinez. Of course, as is the case every offseason, starting pitching comes at a premium price.
“It’s expensive,” Forst said, mentioning the contract numbers for recent free-agent signees Merrill Kelly ($40 million, two years) and Zach Eflin ($10 million, one year). “Starting pitching is not easy to come by. … Free agency is expensive.”
Trading for a starter might be less in terms of dollars, but the cost in terms of what you would have to give up is almost equally high. Forst pointed out a recent trade that saw the Rays net four prospects and a Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick from the Orioles in exchange for Shane Baz.
“Tampa got a haul for that guy,” Forst said. “So it’s expensive on both fronts. I think we have to balance that line of really wanting this team in ’26 to be better but also knowing that a lot of the farm system are guys that are going to impact our team down the road.”
Naturally, many of those pitchers have come up in trade discussions. For the A’s, it’s about balancing trying to win now while also preserving what has built up into a strong pitching depth within the organization.
“We have a really good base talent of young pitching,” Forst said. “That’s hard to come by. It’s not something you take lightly. It’s not something you want to really move in the trade market unless you absolutely have to. I love our depth. I’m excited to see these guys in Spring Training. They’re all going to be in big league camp, including Jamie Arnold. I know [manager Mark Kotsay] is excited with the talent of arms coming.”