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An early season revival for Elvis Andrus

By David Hill

Apr 11, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus (17) looks on during an at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2022; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus (17) looks on during an at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elvis Andrus is a member of the Oakland A’s only due to his own struggles. He came to the organization in a swap of bad contracts, and even with the Rangers paying a large portion of his salary this year, has the same market of zero as William Hung’s Christmas CD.

Even a strong showing this year may not matter. Andrus has a $15 million option that is triggered if he reaches 550 plate appearances this season. A strong showing means that he will get to those plate appearances if he remains healthy, which likely makes him untradable. A poor showing means that the A’s would still be on the hook for $7 million of his salary this year, even if he is on the bench or designated for assignment to make room for Nick Allen.

Elvis Andrus showing early season signs of competence

Through ten games, the A’s have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball, splitting their ten game road trip to start the year. Andrus was a major part of that success as he has suddenly found offensive production that has been missing since 2017.

Andrus has been surprisingly useful to start the year. While it is a small sample size of 38 plate appearances, Andrus has eight hits, including four doubles and a homer, thus far. He has drawn five walks, and has struck out only five times. This production, even in ten games, has to be more than the A’s expected.

That resurgence has not come to the defensive side. He has already cost the A’s three runs in his nine games at short, his once solid defense now a thing of the distant past. However, for the first time in years, his bat is able to make up for it.

There is no guarantee this will continue. Andrus has had moments of competence before, only for them to be lost in a sea of mediocrity. While the A’s cannot have any certainty that Andrus will continue to produce, they are certainly going to ride this wave as long as possible.

Next. Sheldon Neuse finally getting his chance. dark

The Oakland A’s are going to be stuck with Elvis Andrus. They have to hope that this strong start continues as long as possible.