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Another former Oakland A’s player will get a ring this year

By David Hill

Oct 22, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (31) throws the ball against Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) in the seventh inning during game six of the 2021 ALCS at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (31) throws the ball against Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (not pictured) in the seventh inning during game six of the 2021 ALCS at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Turnover has been a constant with the Oakland A’s in Billy Beane‘s era. Due to ownership’s refusal to spend money on free agency, or to keep their own players, the A’s have seen quite a few players head elsewhere to find success. As it stands, 23 of the past 24 World Series winning teams have had at least one former member of the A’s, with the 2003 Marlins as the notable exception.

That will continue again this year. The World Series matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros will ensure that at least one member of the organization during Beane’s tenure will once again earn a ring somewhere else.

Yet another former Oakland A’s player will get a championship

It took an odd trade for this to happen with the Astros. Kendall Graveman was sent to Houston from the Mariners as part of the deal that sent Abraham Toro to Seattle. That trade was not exactly well received, including in the Mariners locker room, but Toro did end up becoming a potential building block in Seattle.

The Braves, meanwhile, have their own former A’s pitcher. Jesse Chavez has served a variety of roles for Atlanta this season, including as the opener four times. He signed with the Braves in the middle of April after being released by the Angels at the end of spring training, and has yet to allow a run in his 4.1 postseason innings this year.

It certainly makes one wonder what could have been. What if ownership would actually spend money on payroll, supplementing a strong core on their roster and bringing in those missing pieces. Or what if they would actually keep their players on long term contracts, something that has not been done since Eric Chavez signed his extension. Just because Chavez did not work out does not mean that other extensions would not have.

But such is life with the A’s. They build a core good enough to contend for the postseason, but not strong enough to win a championship. Then those players go elsewhere and get a ring once they have left Oakland.

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Once again, a former Oakland A’s player will win a World Series ring. This will be the 23rd time in the past 24 years this has happened.