MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

The Athletics have been busy shoring up deficiencies and extending core players this off-season and fans aren’t used to the focus. Could it be the possible future investments of the Buss family (Lakers longtime ownership) is changing the atmosphere?

On Christmas Day, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract giving him the largest contract in A’s history. Soderstrom was moved to left field last season to make way for eventual Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz to play first base.

It paid off for Soderstrom, as well, with him becoming a Gold Glove Finalist at his new position and hitting .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs and 86 RBI on the season.

The contract, which has an eighth-year club-option and can reach $131 million with incentives, adds another key piece to the Athletics future, as they look to the 2028 move to Las Vegas. Designated Hitter and 2025 All-Star Brent Rooker (5-year, $60 million) and right fielder Lawrence Butler (7-year, $65.5 million) have already signed contracts that will take them into the first couple of seasons in Vegas.

The Athletics are in a unique position by having an explosive core of everyday players that not only include those already mentioned but Rookie of the Year runner-up and All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was second to the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge in batting average at .311).

Together with catcher Shea Langeliers (.277, 32 doubles, 31 home runs, 72 RBI) and center fielder Denzel Clarke (2025 MLB Play of the Year-Top 4 plays of 2025), they are all players the Athletics need to extend through the move to Nevada.

It’s in the best interests of the franchise to sign Kurtz, Wilson, and hopefully Langeliers and make them the faces of the team. It would be a smart move to plaster their faces all over the Strip and at the Casinos and give the team an identity that Vegas can latch on to. Meet and Greets during the offseason will get the locals used to the new product coming on Opening Day 2028.

In other transactions on December 17th, former Yankee right-hander Mark Leiter agreed to a 1-year, $3 million contract with the A’s. Leiter is a ground ball pitcher, which is an advantage at Sutter Health Park, and he will likely be used in short middle relief. He appeared in 59 games last season for the Yankees with a 6-7 record, 4.84 era, and 54 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. His presence should help the young and inexperienced pitching staff.

On December 22nd, the A’s erased the question marks at second base in a big way, when they traded 17-year-old minor-league right-hander Yordan Rodriguez to the Mets for second baseman Jeff McNeil and $5.75 million in cash for his 2026 salary.

McNeil is a two-time All-Star (2019, 2022) who won the NL batting title in 2022 with a .326/.382/.454 stat line as well as winning the Silver Slugger Award that season. Drafted by Mets in 2013, in the 12th round, he has had 2 altercations with Francisco Lindor that has drawn negative attention and is probably the reason he was traded.

In May of 2021, rumors were Lindor grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into a wall, in a tunnel at Citi Field. In 2025 when McNeil had an error, words were also exchanged and whispers that he was a clubhouse issue for Lindor sealed his fate.

For the Athletics, they get an All-Star at second base to pair with an All-Star shortstop. McNeil also played all of the of the outfield spots, third base and first base when necessary for the Mets.

The team is showing they are planning for a long run as a playoff contender, and only third base is up in the air going into 2026 for the everyday positions. The team will likely fill the spot from within the organization, possibly Max Muncy.

Moving forward, starting pitching and extending core players should be the focus of the Athletics as they look forward to a successful season in 2026.