The 2023 season for the Oakland Athletics was another dreadful one, as they went 50-112 and finished last in the AL West for the second year in a row. Before the 2024 season, rumors swirled around the team’s potential move to a different location. This prompted low home game attendance, as evidenced by their last-place ranking this year. They are averaging almost 6,000 fewer fans than the next team, prompting fans to boycott owner John Fisher. What is going on with this once-storied franchise? Let’s take a closer look at what has happened since last year.
Future Relocation
On June 13, 2023, the team experienced their infamous “reverse boycott”, which saw the stands filled with more than 37,000 people and chants of “sell the team” aimed at Fisher. While the A’s have been trending downward in recent years, 2023 showed how little the front office seems to care. On the flip side, many fans do care and want to see changes made in their own city rather than in someone else’s.
Amid all this, Fisher made a significant announcement: the team will no longer play in the Oakland Coliseum after the 2024 season. With their lease expiring, the A’s plan to play their home games in West Sacramento, California, for three years before eventually moving to Las Vegas. Sutter Health Park, home of the San Francisco Giants’ AAA affiliate, will host the team starting next year. They also plan to drop “Oakland” out of their name, simply becoming the “Athletics” or the “A’s”.
The Stars of the Show in 2023
Despite the tough times last year, there were still some bright spots on the roster. Some rookies stood out and showcased their talents on the field and at the plate in 2023.
Second baseman Zack Gelof made his debut in July and, in just 69 games, recorded a 134 OPS+. OPS+ measures a player’s performance adjusted to the ballpark, with 100 being average. This meant he was performing 34% better than the average player. He hit .267 with 20 doubles and 14 homers last year. The one drawback to his game was frequent strikeouts, with over 80 Ks in less than 70 games. Nevertheless, he made a name for himself and had A’s fans excited for the upcoming season.
Rule 5 draft pick Ryan Noda, 27, (formerly of the Dodgers) was a key part of the offense as well. After making the Opening Day roster, Noda became the team’s primary first baseman. Despite only hitting .229, he accumulated 118 OPS+ thanks to 39 extra-base hits and only seven errors in the field.
Photo Cred: AP News (#20- Gelof, #49- Noda)
Acquired in a 2022 trade, Shea Langeliers finished second on the team with 22 home runs, which earned him the nickname “Shea Bangeliers”. The 26-year-old catcher, part of the Matt Olson trade with the Braves, has solidified his role as the team’s primary catcher. Outfielder Esteury Ruiz also made significant contributions, stealing an impressive 67 bases, tying for the team lead with 114 hits, and leading the A’s with 24 doubles.
While all these contributions were notable, the team’s lone All-Star representative was designated hitter Brent Rooker. For the first time in his career, the 29-year-old played more than 60 games in a season, having previously been with four different teams. He emerged as a standout player, finishing the season with 20 doubles, 30 home runs, and a team-leading 69 RBIs. Rooker also tied with Ruiz for the most hits on the team.
Photo Cred: MLB.com (L- Rooker, R- Ruiz)
Their pitching staff could not match the offensive firepower, finishing last in the AL with a team ERA of 5.48. However, relief pitcher Austin Pruitt and closer Trevor May were bright spots, as Pruitt posted a 2.98 ERA in 38 games, while May recorded 21 saves in 49 games.
A Tough but Interesting Offseason
After the season ended, the Athletics began their offseason in typical fashion: losing key players to higher-paying teams and only signing inexpensive, younger or older players with hopes of turning them around. The abovementioned pitching standouts, Pruitt (Rangers) and May (retirement), left the team shortly after the regular season concluded. Other notable departures included 2B/LF Tony Kemp (Twins), infielder Jace Peterson (free agent), and RP Shintaro Fujinami (Mets).
The current 26-man roster in 2024 features 14 new players acquired through various methods: two free-agent signings, two waiver claims, a Rule 5 selection, five minor league signings who were promoted, three trade acquisitions, and a prospect promotion. Key additions include RP Scott Alexander, 3B J.D. Davis, 3B/LF Miguel Andujar, RP/SP Mitch Spence, and 3B/2B Abraham Toro.
Photo Cred: X.com
The additions did not stop there, as they acquired three pitchers who are currently injured. SP Ross Stripling was traded by the Giants on the same day that the A’s signed Alex Wood, a former teammate from both the Dodgers and the Giants. RP Trevor Gott was the team’s second offseason signing, after the now-optioned Osvaldo Bido. However, his season ended before it began as he had to undergo Tommy John surgery.
A Sudden Resurgence After a Slow Start
Despite low expectations from fans and experts for the 2024 season, the A’s surprised many. After losing seven of their first eight games, they bounced back with a 6-2 record in the following eight games. By the end of the first month, they held a 14-17 record, positioning them in the top three of the American League West.
This sudden turnaround is attributed to a mix of veteran players meeting expectations and young stars continuing to shine. The team currently boasts four starters and two backups with an OPS+ above 100, and their bullpen ranks among the strongest in the league.
2024’s Offensive Standouts
Leading the offensive charge are Rooker and Langeliers. Rooker boasts a .280 batting average with 11 home runs, while Langeliers has already contributed 12 homers with a 120 OPS+. Meanwhile, last year’s standout performers Gelof and Noda have had slow starts to the season, batting .176 and .128, respectively. However, their contributions are being offset by other players stepping up.
Photo Cred: The Mercury News (#33- Bleday, #31- Toro)
Toro, on his fourth team at just 27, is off to the best start of his career. He is currently batting .290 with 60 hits in 55 games. Another standout is OF JJ Bleday, who played 82 games in 2023 for the A’s and hit a mere .195. This year, he has turned it around, pairing a .250 BA with 26 extra-base hits.
The Real 2024 Showstoppers: The Bullpen
Their starters have been serviceable so far, with 28-year-old lefty SP J.P. Sears leading the way with a 3.88 ERA. However, their bullpen has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Two pitchers have been particularly impressive: Austin Adams and Mason Miller. Adams was acquired in March from the Mets for cash considerations. The 33-year-old has only pitched in more than 25 games twice in his career but has been on a tear this season. In 26 games, he has a 2.41 ERA, only giving up five earned runs on 15 hits while striking out 25 over 18.2 innings. He leads the team with 13 holds as well.
The only person overshadowing him is their new closer, Mason Miller. After pitching in just 10 games in 2023 and posting a 3.78 ERA, Miller showcased his skills in Spring Training and secured a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2024. He has been untouchable since then!
Photo Cred: SBNation.com (Miller)
He features a four-seam fastball averaging 100.9 mph, reaching 104 already this season, alongside a slider averaging just under 90 mph. So far, Miller has only allowed six earned runs in 26.0 innings while striking out 51 and walking just 10. His control has been exceptional, consistently placing 102 mph fastballs in the corners of the strike zone. On the next pitch, he might repeat the same or switch to his slider or changeup, both averaging below 93 mph.
Earning the league minimum salary, Miller is establishing himself as one of baseball’s premier pitchers. He has an impressive 0.88 WHIP (walks plus hits per nine innings) and 17.7 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings). Despite being only 26, Miller is poised for a substantial payday at season’s end.
Keep Believing, A’s Fans!
Unfortunately, the Athletics eventually regressed after reaching a high point of 17-17 on May 4th… They experienced a 6-18 downturn since their six-game win streak at the start of the month. While notable individual performances haven’t been enough to turn the team around and put them in the playoff conversation, they offer hope for the team’s future. These are elements that Oakland residents have one last chance to cherish before their team is taken away from them… The Athletics become the second team in the past four years to move from the Oakland area to Las Vegas, following the Raiders’ relocation in 2020.
The Athletics have a storied history, boasting nine World Series titles, 15 AL Pennants, and 17 AL West Division titles. From Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland, they are now destined for their latest move to Las Vegas. The opening of the new stadium in 2028 will mark their sixth stadium in franchise history. While A’s fans will continue their support in a new city, it will be a somber time for Oakland. The city has lost several sports teams in the past six years, with their efforts to attract sports teams in the future remaining uncertain. Nonetheless, the A’s look forward to a fresh start in Sacramento and Las Vegas.
