Elephant Rumblings: ABS invades Spring Training

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

The A’s first preseason Cactus League game of 2025 is tomorrow! The A’s will be taking on the Padres at the Peoria Sports complex; first pitch is scheduled at 12:10pm, with J.T. Ginn slated to start on the mound.

Jayson Stark at The Athletic provided a timely reminder yesterday that our robo ump overlords are invading this year’s preseason games. It sounds kind of bad when I put it that way. Personally, I am all for eliminating human ump error from balls and strikes calling, but it’s going to be a big change for players to adapt to. Stark provides a primer on how a hitter might make the necessary adjustments—and the advice is instructive to us all in terms of what to expect a this experiment rolls out.

Stark also discusses when this Automated Ball-strike system (ABS) might be introduced to regular season MLB games. It could happen as soon as next year, but labor disputes loom with an impending Collective Bargaining Agreement due to be negotiated after the 2026 season that could complicate the timeline.

Meanwhile, the A’s continue to stock up on buy-low free agent talent. The latest such acquisition is 34-year-old reliever Dylan Floro, who signed a minor league deal with the A’s this week, according to the team.

Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors notes that Floro put in a solid workload last year with the Nationals and Diamondbacks, and was actually stellar during his time in Washington with a 2.06 ERA through 52⅓ innings, despite a significant drop in his K rate. Excepting 2020, Floro has made at least 50 MLB appearances in every season since 2018 and has a career FIP of 3.16. Sounds pretty good to me!

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics, Dylan Floro Agree To Deal
• After breakout season, Butler sets lofty goals for ‘25 and beyond
• Rob Manfred’s Update on A’s Ballpark(s) Seems Indirect
• Kansas City Royals Add Former A’s Starter
• Former A’s Lefty Lands with Colorado Rockies

MLB News & Interest:

• Robot umps are here: What MLB players need to know to navigate ABS this spring ($)
• ESPN, MLB Opt Out Of TV Deal For 2026-28
• Yankees Extend Aaron Boone
• Which Top 100 prospects are headed for Opening Day rosters?
• Cubs Sign Justin Turner
• Pirates To Sign Andrew Heaney
• The White Sox are coming off baseball’s worst season. Will Venable signed up anyway ($)
• Scott Sauerbeck Passes Away
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Oh daaaang.

I hope A’s fans get to enjoy watching Law for years to come.

Ouch.