It was a matter of time before Elvis Andrus became upset with the Oakland A’s.
He has a vesting option in his contract for 2023 worth $15 million if he receives 550 plate appearances. As one of the A’s better hitters this year, he has been in the lineup regularly, to the point where he is on pace to come close to that mark. If he falls short, he will be back in free agency, where he will not come close to that dollar amount.
Elvis Andrus not part of Oakland A’s future
At the same time, the A’s are not even close to contending for a playoff berth. They are one of the worst teams in the league and are staring down a top six pick next year. As they are in the beginning stages of their rebuilding process, that means getting playing time for their younger options to see who can be part of that core.
This means that Andrus is losing playing time. Nick Allen has been playing at second base for most of his time in the majors despite being a shortstop. That has changed recently as he and Andrus have alternated time at the position, something that the veteran is not pleased about, saying that he’s “upset” and “pissed” at the situation.
It is certainly understandable. He is set to lose out on a significant payday due to the A’s splitting time at short between he and Allen. The A’s may have attempted to trade him before the deadline as well, but that option essentially made him unmovable.
But Andrus also needs to understand where he is. The A’s were never going to pay him that option, especially after they were so blatant about slashing payroll before this season. One way or another, they would have ordered that he be given “rest” days so as to keep him short of that 550 plate appearance threshhold. It is the John Fisher way after all.
Elvis Andrus is upset that he is losing playing time. However, with the Oakland A’s being who they are, he should not be surprised at all.