When the Oakland A’s acquired Starling Marte, the expectation was that he would be a rental. He is scheduled to hit free agency after the season, and given the A’s typically low payrolls, it was highly unlikely that he would be someone that the team would look to retain.
But there also comes a point where winning and the fit have to take precedence. Marte has been everything that the A’s could have hoped for since being acquired from the Marlins. He has been a catalyst in the lineup, showing that he was the missing piece from the roster.
Oakland A’s need to show Starling Marte the money
The A’s have been on fire since Marte was acquired. They have won eight of their last ten games, including seven in a row after Thursday’s 17-0 destruction of the Indians. The A’s have been a drastically different team since that trade, even withstanding the loss of Ramon Laureano.
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It is not a surprise that Marte has been on fire as well. He has put together an incredible .415/.456/.585 batting line in his 57 plate appearances, hitting two homers and three doubles while stealing nine bases. Although he will not keep up that level of production for the rest of the season, Marte has been the catalyst that the A’s had hoped for.
Marte is not opposed to an extension with a relatively small market team. He had wanted to remain with the Marlins, especially given the type of future he felt they were building. However, as Miami offered a three year deal worth $30 million, the two sides were vastly apart in their discussions, leading to the trade.
The A’s are notorious for not spending on players in free agency. Likewise, any extensions have to be considered a bargain to be entertained. But with the push for the new stadium, and a perfect fit for the lineup in Marte, ownership will need to show that they care about more than lining their pockets. Marte is the perfect way to do that.
Starling Marte has been a perfect piece for the Oakland A’s. Now they need to make certain that he does not leave at the end of the year.