With key contributors set to become free agents, 2020 could be Oakland A’s best shot at World Series title

It’s too soon to know exactly how the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout across the major leagues will affect this year’s free agent class, but it’s increasingly clear baseball is headed toward an unprecedented offseason.

MLB teams are laying off scouts and high-ranking front office officials, making cuts at nearly every level of organizations and preparing for the realistic scenarios in which stadiums will either have reduced capacities or be completely empty again in 2021.

Financial trouble doesn’t bode well for anyone in any industry and MLB players who are set to become free agents are likely preparing to lower their expectations this winter. It’s impossible to know whether players might be more likely to return to familiar situations on one-year deals and wait a season to see if they can command larger salaries, but the Oakland A’s might need that to happen to have a realistic shot at competing for a World Series title in 2021.

Even with superstar third baseman Matt Chapman out for the postseason following hip surgery, the A’s best chance to win a World Series title within the next five seasons could be right now.

Lights-out closer Liam Hendriks, 2019 MVP finalist Marcus Semien and second baseman Tommy LaStella are the headliners of a group of A’s who will soon hit free agency, but the group also includes several key contributors including starter Mike Fiers, switch-hitting outfielder Robbie Grossman and bullpen anchors Joakim Soria and Yusmeiro Petit.

An A’s farm system that always seems to produce strong talent can offset many of the losses Oakland anticipates this winter, but it will be difficult for Billy Beane and David Forst to find solid replacements at positions the organization hasn’t had to worry about the last few years.

Semien’s emergence at shortstop last season turned the A’s infield from a strong group with a lot of potential to one of the best infields in all of baseball. Chapman and first baseman Matt Olson aren’t going anywhere unless Beane suddenly gets trade-happy, but LaStella will also be difficult to replace considering the A’s have been searching for consistency at second base for the last several years.

Even with Semien’s deep ties to the East Bay and his decline in production this season, it seems inevitable another team will outbid Oakland for his services in the winter. LaStella should also capitalize on the chance to hit the open market as there’s a real demand for left-handed hitting infielders with elite contact skills like his.

Finding suitable replacements in the bullpen could be the biggest challenge for Oakland as manager Bob Melvin has had the luxury of choosing among a long list of potential high-leverage options over the last few years. The A’s could try to replace Hendriks with top prospect A.J. Puk if they determine the oft-injured lefty has a better chance of staying healthy out of the bullpen, but Beane and Forst know it will be practically impossible to find relievers who have demonstrated the type of consistency Petit and Soria have brought to the best bullpen in the majors.

The A’s should be able to withstand losing Fiers and 2020 trade deadline pickup Mike Minor in the rotation, but it’s easy to see that the offseason checklist Oakland must deal with is much more extensive than the ones from the past two winters.

Oakland could have a different look next season, but the A’s do have a strong core to build upon and play in a division that doesn’t look like it will be extremely challenging to win over the next few years. The Astros are graduating some big talent to free agency, the Angels are starting from scratch with a new general manager, the Mariners are still a few years away and the Rangers are an utter disaster.

In an offseason when other clubs might be as unwilling to spend big money as the A’s usually are, Beane and Forst could have chances to capitalize and bring in quality talent that would otherwise be out of their price range.

The A’s are definitely in win-now mode and won’t be satisfied with an ALDS exit, but the future should remain bright in Oakland. Even with the front office likely needing to find replacements at several key spots on the roster, the A’s expect that they’ll remain a force for years to come.

Keeping the World Series window open will be a challenge, but it’s possible an unusual offseason could give the A’s a better chance of building on the success of the 2020 club.