close
close

tub-blois

Breaking: Beyond Headlines!

A’s Pending Free Agents for the 2024-25 Offseason
aecifo

A’s Pending Free Agents for the 2024-25 Offseason

With a World Series champion crowned last night as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees, that means it’s officially time to start looking ahead to the MLB offseason, where teams will spend all winter to determine what their teams will have to do. will look like next year. The A’s, coming off a 69-93 season in Oakland, will enter a new era in Sacramento, attempting to build on the promise shown last season.

This year, the A’s will only have a handful of players eligible for free agency, all pitchers and will soon face difficult decisions as to who they want to keep and what they would like to do with the guys whose contracts are expiring. Ahead of what should be a fun and exciting winter, here are all the impending free agents for the A’s this year.

Scott Alexander, pitcher for the Oakland Athletics

August 10, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oakland Athletics pitcher Scott Alexander (54) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center. Mandatory credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images / Gerry Angus-Imagn Images

Signing a one-year contract last offseason, Alexander became a backbone in the bullpen, pitching in 45 games and accumulating a 2.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 1 -3. Alexander is very strong against a left-handed hitter and having only made $2.25 million this season and being 35 years old, the A’s may find themselves considering a reunion and having him play a major role in the pen at Sacramento.

Trevor Gott, New York Mets relief pitcher

August 8, 2023; New York, New York, United States; New York Mets relief pitcher Trevor Gott (33) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Gott is tricky. Although he didn’t cost the A’s that much, signing for one year for $1.5 million last offseason, he didn’t pitch at all for the team in 2024 due to surgery from Tommy John in early April. There are a lot of factors with Gott, with his return from injury still to be determined, a 2023 in which he struggled and finished with a 4.34 ERA and is entering his age-32 season. The A’s will need to rely on veteran weapons next year, but the risk for Gott could be greater than the reward.

Oakland Athletics pitcher TJ McFarland

August 7, 2024; Oakland, California, United States; Oakland Athletics pitcher TJ McFarland (48) delivers against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Starting the year in the Dodgers organization, McFarland was traded to the A’s before the regular season and was quickly added to the major league roster. In 79 games out of the bullpen, McFarland went 2-4 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, pitching 56.2 innings and striking out 39. With a salary of 850 $000 and being 35 years old, McFarland could be a guy that the A’s look to bring back, as his veteran presence in the clubhouse would have been a strong influence. He really took a liking to fellow Rule 5 draftee Mitch Spence throughout the year and was always eager to sing the praises of the younger guys on the team.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ross Stripling

July 25, 2024; Anaheim, California, United States; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ross Stripling (36) throws during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images / Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Expected to be an important part of the rotation, Stripling struggled in 14 starts, where he compiled a 2-11 record and a 5.72 ERA before the team moved him to the bullpen. relievers for the remainder of the season, after a stint on the IL. Things didn’t get much better as he finished the season with a 6.01 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 22 appearances, pitching 85.1 total innings while striking out 49.

His numbers across the board have been the worst of his career, however, he has had success in years past, just two years removed from his career-best season, and with established veterans needed in the rotation for the A’s next year there is a chance. Stripling returns. The right-hander told A’s on SI at the end of the year that he would be open to a reunion and pitch in Sacramento.

Alex Wood, Oakland Athletics pitcher

April 30, 2024; Oakland, California, United States; Oakland Athletics pitcher Alex Wood (57) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images / Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

A starting day starter for the A’s this year, injuries have hampered Wood’s efforts to truly prove himself after two struggling seasons, playing in just nine games for Oakland this season and compiling a 1-3 record with an ERA of 5.26 and a WHIP of 1.78. striking out 33 batters in 39.1 innings.

After his nine starts, Wood, 33, was placed on IL due to left rotator cuff tendinitis in May before undergoing season-ending surgery on July 25. Wood’s injury issues in recent years have called into question his productivity for future seasons. He’ll probably find a role on a team somewhere, but it might not be with the A’s.