3 Athletics To Watch Closely As Regular Season Winds Down

With the playoffs out of the conversation, it is time to sit back and figure out who will be the top contributors for the Athletics in 2027.

Jun 23, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (7) walks back o the dugout after a pitching change during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With the Athletics not looking their best, there is still a reason to watch.

The Athletics, following a decent win over the Astros, sit at 50-80, with 32 more games left in the regular season. Even though there is, hypothetically, a chance for the Athletics to go on a winning streak and sneak into the playoffs, this simply is not realistic. Because of this, it may be in your best interest to keep tabs on players who could be massive contributors in 2027.

Alika Williams | SS

Jul 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Athletics second baseman Alika Williams against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With no Jacob Wilson or Joshua Kuroda-Grauer for potentially the rest of the season, the Athletics will need to rely on Alika Williams to match their production. And while it is unlikely that Williams will do everything perfectly, it could give us a solid glimpse of how the Athletics infield will shake up in 2027.

In 142 at-bats, Williams has batted .261 with a .685 OPS along with 10 RBIs and two home runs. While these numbers are admittedly low, they represent a sharp increase over his 2024 season, where he batted .207 with a .541 OPS in 87 at-bats. If Williams is able to stay on this trajectory, we will likely see him on the active roster as a utility player. Or, he could drive up his stock to make way for a team-altering trade. Either way, Williams has what it takes to make an impact on this team's future.

Elvis Alvarado | RP/CP

Aug 11, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics pitcher Elvis Alvarado (37) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When the Athletics traded Mason Miller last season, a massive hole in their bullpen has remained open ever since. Time and time again, the Athletics would use pitchers such as Hogan Harris, Luis Medina, Mason Barnett, or even Elvis Alvarado to help alleviate this void. But recently, it looks like Alvarado is the clear long-term choice.

Not only does Alvarado nearly match Miller's fastball velocity (Miller, 101.5 MPH vs. Alvarado, 98.6 MPH), but Alvarado has started to hone his slider, which, with time, could potentially match Miller's otherworldly success with the pitch. Considering Alvarado has only given up two runs in his last 13.0 innings, we might already have seen a glimpse of what is to come. There is no doubt that Alvarado will be an integral part of the Athletics bullpen in 2027.

Lawrence Butler | OF

Aug 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler (4) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After a 21-home-run, 22-stolen-base season in 2025, the expectations for Lawrence Butler in 2026 were sky-high. Even though Butler may have been rushed back from injury this spring, it has taken him a while to match the impact he brought to the table last season. Only since the break has Butler looked like himself.

With a healthy lineup in 2027, featuring Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer back in the mix, the Athletics' offensive potential will be through the roof. Add in a red-hot Butler, and all of a sudden the Athletics could be competing for a playoff spot. With Butler being the only member of the "New Age Athletics" left in the lineup, this could be his chance to escape the shadow of the players mentioned above.