Elephant Rumblings: A’s listening on Springs, Sears

MLB news roundup

Morning everyone!

The All-Star Break is fully in the rearview mirror now, and that means trade season is ready to get into full swing. We’ve seen a few early trade thus far this year, none bigger than the Rafael Devers trade to the Giants last month. But now we are just nine days away from the Trade Deadline and things will begin picking up here, and there’s more and more rumors everyday.

The A’s are firmly in the seller’s camp this season but unlike in years past during major rebuilds the team doesn’t have much in the way of massive chips to cash in on this season. The biggest and most obvious names that have been floated, second baseman Luis Urias and Miguel Andujar, aren’t exactly the type of players that would bring back a massive prospect return for the A’s. Urias is having a fine season but is only on a one-year contract, while Andujar has only just returned from a lengthy stint on the IL and is also on a one-year pact. We’ve heard that some teams have shown interest in starting catcher Shea Langeliers, but that seems unlikely to happen at this juncture for the club.

As for the pitching, we’ve heard much more on that front. Expensive offseason addition Luis Severino is just 3-11 in his first season with the Athletics and has made no secret of his disdain for his new home ballpark in Sacramento. Closer Mason Miller seems less untouchable than ever but the team is still reportedly resisting offers for the former top prospect.

Well now we can finally add left-handers Jeffrey Springs and JP Sears to names that are being discussed behind the scenes, per Ken Rosenthal. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that both pitchers would be of interest to contenders in need of starting help. Springs got off to a horrible start but has been a much better pitcher after the first month, while it’s generally been the opposite story for Sears here in 2025. Springs is sporting a solid if unspectacular 4.18 ERA on the year but is also quickly approaching his career-high in innings pitched. Sears has been a workhorse for the Athletics since joining the organization but is in the midst of a career-worst season.

Both are controllable beyond this year (Springs for one more, Sears for two) and will cost more moving forward, but the A’s need arms if they want to get back to contention next year, and they need to spend money on someone. This is the first time we’ve heard of the A’s actively listening on the two lefties, and if they don’t believe that they’ll be around when this team arrives to Las Vegas then it’s not a bad thing to at least listen to what other teams would offer. Both pitchers could bring back decent returns, but then we’re right back to searching desperately for pitching ourselves this winter.

If one does end up on the move, which would you prefer to see the A’s trade? Discuss below, and have an excellent day everyone!

A’s Coverage

• A’s Fall In Series Opener To Rangers 7-2
• Center fielder Denzel Clarke to hit IL with right adductor strain
• Clarke’s injury could leave gaping hole in center of A’s defense
• A’s listening on Jeffrey Springs, JP Sears
• Athletics’ Max Muncy avoids serious injury
• Upcoming Trade Deadline For A’s — Quiet Or Splashy?
• A’s Rebuffing Trade Interest In Mason Miller
• Dodgers DFA former Athletic Lou Trivino for assignment
• Former Athletic Jesse Chavez elects free agency
• Latest Athletics injuries and transactions

MLB News & Interest:

• Phillies win on catcher’s interference in 10th
• Veteran Rich Hill, 45, set to start for Royals on Tuesday
• Cardinals president Mozeliak to meet with Nolan Arenado regarding no-trade preferences
• Stearns: Mets aim to bolster bullpen at deadline
• Mets willing to deal from infield depth
• Mets recall former top prospect Francisco Alvarez from Triple-A
• Rockies’ German Marquez to undergo MRI on shoulder
• As deadline nears, here are the best available players at each position
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Bullet likely dodged for Max Muncy:

Definitely worth a listen!

We’d take that:

Seconded: