Oakland A’s payroll cuts have target number

Everyone is aware that the Oakland A’s are looking to cut payroll. It is no secret that the perennially cash strapped organization is going to move on from certain players, as virtually everyone is on the trading block. If a player is making a respectable salary, chances are that he can be had.

Now we may know what the A’s target is for payroll. According to reports, the A’s may be looking to cut their payroll down to as little as $50 million for the upcoming season.

Oakland A’s payroll cuts have target

The A’s front office has not denied anything regarding those reports or that dollar amount. General manager David Forst simply said that it is “the A’s lot in Oakland” and part of the cycle of the team. Unless something drastically changes, the A’s will constantly be facing financial difficulties despite having a literal billionaire as an owner.

This also means that the vast majority of the A’s arbitration class is likely gone. The team had a payroll of $83.8 million in 2021, and with the likes of Matt Olson, Sean Manaea, and Chris Bassitt, amongst others, set to receive significant raises in arbitration, the A’s payroll would shoot beyond their record of $92 million without making an addition.

The timing of this teardown is particularly bad. Not only are the A’s trying to get their new stadium at Howard Terminal, essentially blackmailing the city with threats of heading to Las Vegas, but they have also drastically increased ticket prices. If there was a blueprint on how to alienate a fanbase, the A’s ownership has written it.

But that will not change anything. The A’s are going to do what they always have – rip their core apart just when they could truly contend because it would cost far too much to keep them together and supplement the roster. Then ownership wonders why the A’s struggle to draw fans to the ballpark.

The Oakland A’s are reportedly looking to slash payroll to as little as $50 million. The cuts are going to be plentiful and deep this offseason.