Mason Miller is gone. And from that moment on, the A’s bullpen is no longer a place where a name can step out in the ninth inning and make things simple.
On paper, Oakland is getting closer to a truly competitive season. After years of rebuilding, the 2026 roster looks more mature, more balanced, and even has considerable depth in its lineup. Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Jeff McNeil, Tyler Soderstrom… it’s no longer an experimental group. It’s a team capable of scoring consistently.
But if the game drags to the final inning with a narrow margin, the biggest question remains: who will be the one to lock in the door?
After trading Mason Miller, the A’s switched to a closer-by-committee model. And surprisingly, their bullpen performed very well in the latter part of the 2025 season. From August 1st onwards, they boasted an ERA of 2.99 – second only to all MLB relief pitchers.
It sounds like everything is settled.
But the last two months of the season and 162 full games are two completely different stories.
Currently, the three most prominent names for the closer role are Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Mark Leiter Jr. Harris has the advantage because he led the team in saves after Miller’s departure. He has the composure and direct offensive style that coach Mark Kotsay favors.
But Harris only has four saves in that period.
Barlow has 59 saves in his career – experience is something he doesn’t lack. Leiter Jr. also has nine saves and was an internal candidate before Barlow was brought in.
The problem isn’t a lack of options. The problem is that no one is clearly superior.
Closer by committee sounds flexible. But in reality, it’s usually only sustainable when the team is strong enough not to be dependent on individual pressure situations. As has offensive potential. Rotation with Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Luis Morales could keep the game under control. But if the game goes into the ninth inning by a run — the uncertainty will become very real.
This year’s bullpen has many other variables. Tyler Ferguson is being forced to retain his spot after his strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate increased to 13.8%. Brady Basso could switch to relief to add a second lefty. Luis Medina, just returned from Tommy John and out of options, is almost forced into the bullpen, although his long-term role is unclear.
Each decision has its own logic. But overall, it feels like experimentation.
It’s worth noting that Oakland is entering the season with the ambition of returning to the postseason for the first time since 2020. They will open in Toronto — against a team that just qualified for the World Series. The pressure will be immense. And in games like that, consistency at the end of the game can make the difference between a “potential team” and a “real contender.”
Luis Severino is the most likely to receive the Opening Day ball. A veteran, accustomed to pressure. But even a veteran can’t throw nine innings every game.
And when he steps down the mound, the question will return to the bullpen.
A’s may be believing that depth will compensate for the lack of a consistent closer. They may believe that data, matchups, and the feel of the game at the right moment are enough to orchestrate a ninth inning.
But in a season where every win accumulates into a league position, will “feeling” be enough to keep the door closed when it needs to be?
Or will a series of blown saves early in the season cause things to start slipping off track before they can stabilize?
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