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Oakland A’s on edge of seat for Winter Meetings

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 22: General view of the Oakland Athletics logos in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on July 22, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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The Winter Meetings are going to be a busy time for the Oakland A’s.

Trade talks and rumors are going to swirl, especially around catcher Sean Murphy. It would not be a surprise to see him be traded during those meetings, especially given how thin the catching market is in free agency. The A’s could come back from those meetings with an impressive haul of prospects.

Oakland A’s waiting for their spot in MLB Draft

But that is not the biggest area of interest for the A’s. They are also waiting to find out what spot they will hold in the 2023 MLB Draft as they could pick anywhere from the first to the eighth selection.

After finishing with the second worst record in the majors, dropping to the eighth overall pick would be a major disappointment. It would, however, be a sign of karma working out after ownership decided to jettison almost everyone and slash payroll to an absurdly low level. If the A’s were going to tank, the timing could not have been worse.

There is also a chance that the A’s could be rewarded for their penny pinching ways. They have a 16.5% chance at the first overall pick, tied with the Nationals and Pirates for the best odds. It would mark the second time the A’s had the top overall selection since the MLB Draft began in 1965 as they had selected Rick Monday with the first pick in that inaugural draft.

Ultimately, that draft pick could hold the most importance for the A’s. They could have a chance to draft someone that is considered to potentially be a future star. The A’s farm system, while it has improved over the past year, could certainly use another top prospect or three. That draft pick could make a difference.

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The Oakland A’s are looking forward to the Winter Meetings this year. They will finally learn what draft pick they have on Tuesday.