Three free agents Oakland A’s should sign but won’t spend money on
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.
Marcus Stroman
One of the issues with the Oakland A’s is that they seemingly do not have enough fire. While the likes of Chris Bassitt and Ramon Laureano have become that type of leader, the A’s need more players that have that type of personality. At times, even in big moments, the bench resembled the waiting line at a funeral.
At the same time, the A’s could use another arm in the rotation. Bassitt has emerged as an ace, but they could use someone to pair with him. Someone with fire who could help energize the dugout. Someone such as Marcus Stroman.
As Stroman had the Qualifying Offer attached to him last season, he will be entering free agency without anything to hold him back. His 10-13 record belied a solid 3.02 ERA and a 1.145 WHiP over his 179 innings, while he struck out 158 batters with 44 walks. More importantly, he took the ball for a league leading 33 times, proving that he can be someone that can be counted on every fifth day.
For the A’s, having that type of an arm would go a long way. While Bassitt had been sidelined due to a fluke injury, his 28 starts were by far the most of his career. Stroman may not be the prototypical ace, but he is a strong second starter who would pair well with Bassitt to give the A’s an excellent 1-2 punch.
In a vacuum, bringing Marcus Stroman in would make perfect sense. But Oakland A’s ownership will balk at the idea of spending more than a couple of wooden shekels on a free agent.
Craig Kimbrel
This is a bit of extrapolation. Craig Kimbrel is theoretically under contract for 2022, but given his struggles with the White Sox after the trade deadline, it would not be a surprise if Chicago were to decline his option.
If he does hit the open market, Kimbrel could be the missing piece in the Oakland A’s bullpen. While Lou Trivino did an generally solid job in his first season in the closer role, he also receives a portion of the blame for the A’s missing the playoffs. His two week implosion left the team in a difficult spot, especially as they did not have a viable backup option for the ninth inning.
Kimbrel would solve numerous issues. Not only is he a Proven Closer(tm), but he would allow the rest of the bullpen to slot into roles where they may be better suited. Trivino could be an excellent option as the primary setup man while getting occasional saves when Kimbrel would need a night off.
Considering the amount of work that the bullpen needs, and the A’s hopes for the upcoming year, adding Kimbrel would be a great start. They could find the setup men they need, potentially even giving internal candidates a chance to prove themselves. It all begins with the ninth inning, and once that is solidified, the rest of the bullpen can fall into place.
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But this is all a pipe dream. The Oakland A’s are as likely to open the checkbook and actually spend in free agency as my being named their Opening Day starter.