The Athletics finished the 2025 season with a hard-to-swallow number: a team ERA of 4.71, ranking 27th in MLB. This offseason, their efforts to rectify that problem have been rather modest. Sean Newcomb—who contributed 1.75 ERA to the Athletics—left the free agency. His replacement is Mark Leiter Jr., with an ERA of 4.84 last season (although a FIP of 3.55 suggests better performance than the surface).
In short: the Athletics’ pitching machine remains largely unchanged.
Hope rests on Luis Severino adjusting better after a struggling year at home. But behind him are a host of young, promising but unproven talents. And in MLB, “potential” isn’t a plan—at least not when you want to compete for a postseason spot.
So what can the Athletics do when the free agent market is running out of big names?
The answer lies in timing.
Spring Training is just weeks away. For players still without a club, impatience is starting to overshadow expectations. Training schedules. Daily routines. Family. Careers. With each passing day, the value of “a secure place” increases. And this is where A’s leverage comes in.
Last year, A’s capitalized on this moment to sign Jose Leclerc and Luis Urías. Quiet, no bidding war, but perfectly timed. This year, the circumstances are even more favorable.
Despite playing in temporary facilities, A’s aren’t a team that will “give up.” They have a lineup full of sluggers—far more appealing than facing them every night. They have the goal of competing for a postseason spot. And most importantly: they can pay with what free agents need most right now—stability.
The real leverage isn’t the first year’s money. It’s the second year.
Another year of security. Or a player option for the second year. With the current CBA contract expiring on December 1st, the prospect of another chaotic winter is very real. Blake Snell’s lesson is still fresh in our minds: waiting too long for the market can leave an entire career hanging in the balance.
Many free agents are considering a one-year “pillow contract” to return to the market next season. But what if next season is…lockout? Then another year of security becomes pure gold. A’s might not win as much as AAV, but they can win with peace of mind.
This strategy doesn’t need to be a bombshell. It just needs to open up dialogue. It just needs a pitcher with a decent track record—someone who can take innings, ease pressure on the young players, and give rotation a safety net. For A’s, that’s already a significant upgrade from their current situation.
Adding a second year—or options—is a reasonable “sweetener.” It doesn’t disrupt the long-term plan. It doesn’t tie the payroll. But it’s enough to turn “possibly” into “signed.”
A’s don’t need to change their pitching game overnight. They need the right piece of the puzzle at the right time. And at this late winter stage, timing is exactly what they have in their hands.
While the rest of MLB waits, A’s could be the one to close the deal.
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