Athletics Offseason Outlook: Rebuilding Under New Boss

A stretch of injuries and subpar pitching sank the A’s to a 64‑98 finish after a 76‑win 2025 season. Now rookie baseball‑ops chief Taylor Smith must steer Sacramento’s final year toward a turnaround.

• Tyler Soderstrom, LF: $84MM through 2032 (includes $2MM buyout of $27MM club option for 2033)
• Jacob Wilson, SS: $66MM through 2032 (includes $2MM buyout of $26MM club option for 2033)
• Lawrence Butler, OF: $58MM through 2031 (includes $4MM buyout of $20MM club option for 2032)
• Brent Rooker, OF/DH: $42MM through 2029 ($22MM club/vesting option for 2030)
• Luis Severino, SP: $22MM player option for 2027

• Luis Severino, SP: $22MM player option for 2027
• Jeff McNeil, 2B/1B/OF: $15.75MM club option for 2027 ($2MM buyout, to be covered by the Mets)
• Jeffrey Springs, SP: $15MM club option for 2027 ($750K buyout)

2027 guarantees (if Severino remains and McNeil/Springs are declined): $47.5 MM
Total future commitments (same assumptions): $272 MM

For the first time in decades, the A’s front office is led by an outsider. At 31, Smith is baseball’s youngest exec, yet he brings Red Sox assistant‑GM experience and seven years in the Rays’ R&D lab. For my money, Smith’s blend of analytics and traditional scouting gives the A’s a real edge.

Smith’s analytics pedigree earned him the job, but he now faces a data‑starved pitching dilemma. The Vegas ballpark slated for 2028 promises hitter‑friendly vibes, echoing the Triple‑A Aviators’ park, while its roof may grant pitchers modest relief compared with Sutter Health Park.

Pitching upgrades are urgent, even as the rebuild targets a competitive squad by the Vegas debut. The A’s sat 38‑38 on June 19 before the collapse. One wonders if a healthier lineup could have challenged the Astros, who clinched the division at 81‑81, yet shaky arms might still have held them back.