The A's Still Waiting for That Mid-Rotation SP to Show Up
Like most teams, the A's had a winter shopping list. It included improving themselves at 2B, adding to their bullpen, and working out extensions for their young core players. The good news is the A's have addressed all 3 areas with the additions of Jeff McNeil, Mark Leiter Jr., and the recent 7-year extension for Tyler Soderstrom. But while they've made progress, the starting rotation remains a glaring weakness, and the A's are yet to bolster this area.
The A's have been on the sidelines during recent trades and free agent signings, which has made the landscape for top or mid-rotation talent narrower. However, it's not barren. Two top free agent SPs, Framber Valdez and Ranger Suarez, are still unsigned. While there's a perception that a player's market falls if they don't sign for a long time, many lucrative contracts are signed after the first of the year. Valdez and Suarez will have plenty of suitors willing to pay more than the A's can, and they play in ballparks more appealing to pitchers.
The next tier of free agents is possible, though not likely, for the A's to make a winning pitch. It's anyone's guess how their market is evolving. More pitchers are off the board, but so are more teams, and these pitchers come with warts that make them more risky and potentially accessible to the A's. Perhaps the highest upside 'Tier II' SP is Zac Gallen, who had a down season but a strong career track record and a better second half in 2025. Chris Bassitt is also intriguing, consistent year to year with a 37-year-old season start.
It's harder to categorize Lucas Giolito as Tier II or Tier III. He had a nice 2.0 WAR season, and his velocity was there in 2025, but his peripherals portend significant regression. He had an impressive 3.41 ERA in 2025, yet projection models predict more like a 4.69 ERA in 2026.
Trade targets are a challenge because teams don't usually advertise their intentions. One obvious target is Kris Bubic, with only one year left on his contract. The Royals are looking for outfield help, and a deal centered around Colby Thomas could gain traction. Another possibility is Pablo Lopez, a talented and effective pitcher with 2 years left on his contract. A swap of young controllable talent like Braden Nett or Mason Barnett and Tommy White could be mutually beneficial.
The A's are likely to add someone to bolster their rotation, which remains a top priority. With 6 weeks until spring training, something has to give, but what? The A's are still waiting for that mid-rotation SP to show up, and the question remains: who will they target next?
