The Sacramento Athletics Are Sneaky Having A Decent Offseason, Even If They Were Pretty Much Forced To Spend Money

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Ummm, are we all seeing this? Is this something we can talk about? The Sacramento Athletics are actually having a pretty good offseason so far. Sure they were basically forced to spend money to avoid a grievance with the players association due to their lack of spending in previous offseasons. They had to spend over 150% of their revenue sharing money, around $70 million, on their 2024 payroll. So yes, they're being forced to spend but it seems like they're putting that money to good use and spending it wisely. 

Earlier this offseason the signed Luis Severino to be their Opening Day starter, that deal was a 3-year, $67 million deal. They've made several other smaller moves like signing Gil Urshela and bringing in lefty pitcher Jeffrey Springs. And then earlier this week they handsomely rewarded maybe the most underrated player in baseball when they gave Brent Rooker a five-year extension worth $60 million, with a chance to get to 6/$92 million with certain incentives. That's a hell of a deal for a guy who had bounced around early on and has finally found a home with the Athletics. All-Star in 2023 and followed it up with a career year in 2024 while finishing 4th in baseball in RBIs. 39 bombs to go along with a .293 average and an OBP of .365 ain't too bad either, Rooker was fantastic last year for Oakland. All he does it mash, it's what he does.

There were rumors of trades during the deadline, seemed as if every contender wanted him but the Athletics knew how good this guy was and if they want to bring a winner to Vegas that team needs Brent Rooker on it. He seems to be everyone's favorite player that isn't on their team, he's that kind of guy. Really burst onto the scene last year in a huge way. In exchange for the career year the 30-year old gets some security as this may be his one big chance for a contract. Older guy so taking something like this makes sense. He just became arbitration eligible, wouldn't have been a free agent for 3 more years I believe, so him signing this deal now takes care of him forever, regardless of how he plays going forward. But he won't be 33 looking for a deal, he got that good money deal when he could. He probably could have tried to get bigger money during the season or next offseason but why risk it? Take the money now and feel that security of a longterm deal. 

They're building something with this roster, they won't win a division this year or next but they will continue to play good baseball under Mark Kotsay, they shocked the hell out of everyone last year and they're only getting better. That division hasn't improved much at all, they're spending money and slowly adding pieces to this team. Lawrence Butler is an awesome player that should be on your radar if he wasn't already last year, he's a star all over the diamond. Couple that core with Mason Miller, Jacob Wilson, Zack Gelof, J.J. Bleday, Shea Langeliers and some of their other prospects, they've got some fun pieces to build around there in Sac Town.

They'll be laughed at and made fun of for playing in a AAA ballpark but they will win some games. You saw that last year, people thought they'd have the season the White Sox had, they turned around and won 69 games. Sounds awful but people thought they'd be the worst team we've seen in decades, they fought and played their asses off. They went 32-32 their last 64 games, they were finding their spark that second half so watch out for them with these additions. The fact that they are actually spending money now that they left Oakland is such a slap in the face to their old fans too, second they ditch home they actually start to sign guys and reward their own. That can't taste good if you're a fan who is still livid over them leaving.

I get that they were forced to spend money (more teams should be forced as well) but good for them for at least acting interested in winning more games than they did last year. I'm happy for a guy like Rooker who has only gotten better and really helped propel this team to where they are now, guy seems like he worked his ass off and it's paying off. Now he'll be looked at as the face of the franchise as they move to a massive new stadium with all the bright lights and whistles. They still have money to spend as well, they're already over $100 million spent on the season which is something none of us thought we'd ever hear. This is going to be a fun team this season, keep an eye on those feisty Sacramento A's.