Spring Training hasn’t officially begun yet, but the Oakland Athletics have already made a decision that has left many stunned.
Mitch Spence and Grant Holman—two names once considered crucial depth options for the pitching staff—have both been designated for assignment. Not one. Two. And this happened right before pitchers and catchers report.
This isn’t just a technical move to make room for Scott Barlow and Aaron Civale. It’s more of a statement: A’s are ready to turn the page.
Mitch Spence’s case is somewhat easier to understand. He was a successful Rule 5 pick for the team, starting 2024 fairly well as a long-man before being put into rotation. 151.1 innings with a 4.58 ERA isn’t bad for a first-time MLB pitcher.
But the dark side began to appear in the latter half. Two games in July, 12 earned runs in 11 innings. He was relegated to a minor. He returned, but he was no longer the same player. His ERA jumped from 3.82 at the end of June to 5.10 in just a few games at the end of the season. That’s the kind of slump front office rarely overlooks.
Spence showed he could be a “league average” player. But the Ass no longer need a “league average” in that position. They have Luis Medina—no longer eligible for options—and a host of promising young players ready for action in Sacramento. Long relief is no longer a position reserved for Spence.
And when a player no longer has a “clear role,” things get cold very quickly.
Grant Holman was the real surprise.
In 2024, he exploded in Double-A and Triple-A with an ERA of 0.55 across nearly 49 innings. When he moved up to MLB, a 4.02 ERA in a small sample wasn’t a disaster. Even a 3.87 FIP showed consistent potential.
Then 2025 arrived.
Performance declined. ERA 5.09. And in mid-June, a rotator cuff tendinitis injury ended the season. A young pitcher, who had only recently joined MLB, now faced the risk of passing his waivers.
The move with Holman was more calculated than a cut. The A’s might be hoping he “slips through” the waivers because his recent performance and injury history make other teams wary. If that happens, they keep him in the system without losing a valuable 40-man slot.
But it’s a gamble.
What’s noteworthy isn’t just the two names. It’s the message. The A’s are prioritizing restructuring their pitching staff with a clearer order. Ambiguous roles, “versatile but unremarkable” pitchers are losing their place.
Scott Barlow and Aaron Civale aren’t just additions. They represent a shift in direction. The team wants more stability, more experience—less experimentation.
Spence could be traded in the next few days. The chances of a team claiming him are very high. And Holman? If the waivers work out, it will be a second chance. If not, it’s proof that MLB doesn’t wait for anyone to recover on time.
Spring Training usually brings hope. But in Oakland, it begins with a purge.
And when a team is willing to sacrifice depth to restructure, the question isn’t “who’s being cut,” but: what bigger are they preparing for?
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