AL West 2023 Preview: Oakland Athletics

Major League Baseball is set for opening weekend. Inside the Rangers has updates on each of the Texas Rangers’ American League West rivals entering 2023.

Oakland Athletics

2022 Record: 60-102, fifth place, AL West (46 games behind Houston).

Manager: Mark Kotsay (60-102, one season with Athletics, one season overall).

Free Agency Losses: P Adam Kolarek (minor-league deal with Los Angeles Dodgers), CF Luis Barrera (minor-league deal with Los Angeles Angels), P Jared Koenig (minor-league deal with San Diego Padres).

Free agency gains: SS Aledmys Díaz (two-year contract worth reported $14.5 million), 3B Jace Peterson (two-year contract worth reported $9.5 million), P Trevor May (one-year contract worth reported $7 million), 1B Jesus Aguilar (one-year contract worth reported $3 million), P Jeurys Familia (one-year contract worth reported $1.5 million).

Trades: Acquired LHP Kyle Muller, RHPs Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas and C Manny Pina from Atlanta in exchange for C Sean Murphy. Acquired OF Esteury Ruiz from Milwaukee in exchange for C William Contreras and RHPs Justin Yeager and Joel Payamps. Acquired RHP Chad Smith from Colorado in exchange for minor league RHP Jeff Criswell; Acquired cash considerations from Los Angeles Dodgers for 2B Yonny Hernandez.

Projected Lineup in Field: C Shea Langeliers, 1B Jesús Aguilar, 2B Tony Kemp, 3B Jace Peterson, SS Nick Allen, LF Seth Brown, CF Esteury Ruiz, RF Ramón Laureano, DH Aledmys Díaz.

Projected Starting Rotation: Kyle Muller, James Kaprielian, JP Sears, Shintaro Fujinami, Ken Waldichuk.

Outlook: The Athletics dumped their most tradeable asset, catcher Sean Murphy, for a wealth of prospects. So another rebuild begins. Rangers general manager Chris Young said in December that the Athletics seem to have a knack for reinventing themselves. But even this might take a while.

Díaz’s signing gives the Athletics solidifies their depth in the infield, but he may not be a consistent starter to begin the season. Langeliers gets first crack at being Murphy’s full-time replacement behind the plate. Peterson appears to be headed to a full-time role at third base. Conner Capel is a name to watch in the outfield, a prospect who broke in with St. Louis last season. Ruiz came to Oakland in the Murphy deal and could be patrolling center field on Opening Day. But he will make the roster.

Brown’s bat will keep him in the lineup. He can play first base, he can play outfield and he can even DH. The Athletics could him a full-time DH if Aguilar can play first and younger outfielders can handle that load. For now, assume Brown plays an outfield role and the Athletics will rotate players through the DH role.

Muller was brought in to anchor the rotation. The former second-round pick came to Oakland in the Murphy deal. Fujinami comes to the Athletics from Japan. Kaprielian, Waldichuk and Sears were with the Athletics last season. Paul Blackburn, Drew Rucinski and Freddy Tarnok could be part of the conversation if they get healthy.

What to Watch? If there is a team in the AL West that could fall out of the running quickly, it is the Athletics. The rumors of a potential move to Las Vegas makes it hard for this team to attract and retain talent, which is part of the reason it traded Murphy. Oakland is probably staring at another last-place finish in the division in 2023, unless this team can perform better than expectations.

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