Oakland A’s playing waiting game at this point
A great deal has happened thus far in the offseason, but one would not know that based on the Oakland A’s.
Top free agents such as Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander have signed with new teams. Trades have been made, such as the Mariners’ acquisition of Kolten Wong. The A’s? Well, there has been a lot of discussion about Sean Murphy. Otherwise, the offseason has been marked by several minor league signings and former players heading to Japan.
The calm before the Oakland A’s storm
This has been the case in years past as well. Even when the A’s were looking to add to their core and contend for a playoff spot, those moves came closer to spring training. Chances are, if the A’s make any major league signings for their roster in free agency, it will be late in the offseason.
But that is not what everyone is waiting for. It is a matter of time before Sean Muprhy is traded, especially with at least a third of the league having been linked to his services at this point. The only questions are whether or not that trade will happen during the Winter Meetings and if Willson Contreras will be signed first.
Once that happens, other moves could be coming. It is possible that, once the A’s trade Murphy, they would then sign some free agents. These players would still likely be one year deals for potential bounce back players that the A’s could then flip at the trade deadline. And these signings would likely be just a way to get the league and Player’s Union to stop complaining about the A’s receiving revenue sharing money. But at least something would happen, even if it is the likes of Miguel Sano.
It is just a matter of waiting at this point. Murphy has essentially been on the trading block since July, so the A’s have already gathered plenty of offers. But the A’s are waiting until they get that right offer, allowing them to pull the trigger.
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Everything is quiet with the Oakland A’s at this moment. It is just the calm before the storm as one move could change the offseason.