Elephant Rumblings: Forst speaks on deadline approach

MLB news roundup

Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday!

There has been a ton of speculation about how the Athletics would operate as we approach the Trade Deadline. We are a mere week and we are finally hearing directly from the front office how they plan to let the 2024 Trade Deadline play out:

Well. That gives us our first idea of how this front office plans to operate over the next few days. Based off of those comments it’s fairly easy to expect the club to move their impending free agents, and there’s only really two. Lefty relievers TJ McFarland and Scott Alexander have both pitched reasonably well, are left-handed, and are free agents at the end of the year. Fairly likely they’re in different uniforms come August. The team’s other free agents (Trevor Gott, Ross Stripling, Alex Wood) are injured and won’t find a taker.

After that though is where it gets interesting as all other players have more than one year of team control. Righty Paul Blackburn only has one more year after this campaign, and while he’s been solid when he takes the mound he’s had injury problems. Miguel Andujar has had a bit of a bounce back season after years of injuries but is 29 and likely doesn’t figure into the long-term plans. And then righty reliever Austin Adams has another year of control before he hits the market as well, so he’s another likely candidate for a trade.

After that is where we would be getting into the bigger moves. Outfielder JJ Bleday apparently has had several teams call, as has JP Sears, Abraham Toro and Shea Langeliers. The big prize the Athletics have though is Brent Rooker, who would slide right into the heart of just about any lineup in baseball right now. It would take a massive package to land him though and based on Forst’s comments it seems like he’s here to stay for now.

It would be one thing if Oakland’s top trade pieces were about to hit free agency. The team would lose them for nothing and get no value in return. They just don’t have that player this year outside of a couple middle relievers. Unless a team really comes and blows the team away, it’s seeming more and more likely that the Athletics will be quiet at this year’s trade deadline. Anything can happen though.

A’s Coverage:

• Hogan, A’s shut out Astros 4-0
• Athletics place Jacob Wilson on IL
• Paul Blackburn, Ross Stripling nearing return from IL
• A’s GM downplays chances of Mason Miller trade
• Athletics offense best in July
• A’s sign 12th rounder Ali Camarillo
• How will the Athletics pay for their Las Vegas ballpark?

MLB News and Interest:

• Cubs’ Houer shifts focus to future as Trade Deadline nears
• Mike Trout nearing return, set to begin rehab
• Dodgers designate lefty James Paxton
• Giants’ Ray set to return Wednesday
• Latest on Rays’ deadline plans
• Ty France ‘‘caught off guard” to be put on waivers
• Is Skubal-to-Orioles gaining steam?
• Today in baseball history

Best of X:

Ties Jed Lowrie’s record. Can he break it today?

Cars are always nice:

Some kind words from former Athletic Aledmys Diaz: