Three free agents Oakland A’s should sign but won’t spend money on
By David Hill
The Oakland A’s are going to have a lot of holes on their roster this offseason. Not only do they have 11 players that are eligible for arbitration, but there are another ten players that are eligible for free agency. The A’s will need to replace two of their starting outfielders, a large portion of their bullpen, find a second baseman, and shore up their bench.
That would be a tall task for any team. However, the A’s front office has another consideration – ownership. The A’s owners have not displayed any interest in actually opening the checkbook, as the team has yet to have a payroll over $94 million in their history.
Three free agents Oakland A’s should sign but won’t because ownership is too cheap
This is the time that the A’s should be going for a championship. The core of their roster is intact and is under team control for a couple more years. The A’s, with the right players, could contend for a championship in 2022. But ownership is far more concerned about profit margins than actually winning titles.
Let’s take a look at three players the Oakland A’s should sign but won’t be able to because ownership is too cheap to open the checkbook.
Starling Marte
If ever there was a player who fit with the Oakland A’s, it is Starling Marte.
Marte completely changed the complexion of the A’s offense once he was acquired. He was the perfect fit atop the lineup, stealing bases while providing solid pop and excellent defense. It is safe to say that Marte is the type of player that the A’s need.
The problem is that he is going to be far more expensive that ownership is comfortable with. The Marlins had offered Marte a three year, $30 million extension prior to his being traded to Oakland. Marte’s counter of three years and $50 million likely had something to do with that trade.
He is likely to be even more expensive now. His impressive showing in Oakland, as well as his stature as the MLB leader in stolen bases, will only increase his price tag. That will lead to his heading elsewhere even though he is a perfect fit for the A’s offense.
In a perfect world, Starling Marte would remain with the Oakland A’s. Instead, he will end up somewhere else.