Elephant Rumblings: A’s need to keep spending to avoid greivance

MLB news roundup

Good morning A’s fans!

The A’s made their first big free agent splash in years in a big way with the signing of starting pitcher Luis Severino. The Athletics, now that Vegas seems like a sure thing, will reportedly want to start ramping up payroll so that the team is competitive when they move into their new home in Nevada.

That one move, as big as it was, still hasn’t pushed the 2024 payroll high enough for the union. The MLBPA reportedly is considering filing a grievance against the club for not investing enough money into the major league squad, even after getting fully back onto revenue-sharing. The Severino deal, while the largest in franchise history, still only pushed the current payroll up to roughly $78MM, and with the club aiming to get that number into triple digits the team still has a bit of a way to go if they want to avoid a confrontation with the players union.

While the free agency route is the most straightforward way to add payroll the club could add money to the ledger in other ways as well. The team is reportedly considering an extension for Designated Hitter Brent Rooker and that potential deal would certainly boost payroll. There has also been plenty of talk that the club could try to absorb a bad contract in exchange for more minor league talent but the history of those types of deals working out is few and far between. There has been speculation regarding Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger as we las Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery with both having massive salaries but disappointing 2024’s.

If the club still needs to add roughly $25MM before the end of the season then there are plenty of options on the free agent makeover. Another factor the club is going to face is the fact players apparently just don’t want to play in Sacramento in a minor league ballpark. While the front office has been open and honest with players about the situation the team is facing for the next three years, they will need to significantly overpay for free agents to come here. We’ve already heard plenty of players have just straight up crossed the A’a off their list of potential options so the team can’t be as selective as they might otherwise be. Beggars can’t be choosers.

The winter meetings are currently underway and while the team didn’t make a move on Day 1 it’s absolutely possible the team strikes again over the next coming days. If the team is truly committed to hitting that $100MM mark then we could even see multiple signings between now and spring training with $25MM left to use up. Of all the remaining free agents out there, who makes the most sense to the club? And how much is the team going to have to overpay that player to come to Sacramento for a few seasons?

Have an excellent Tuesday Athletics Nation.

MLB News & Interest:

• “Intention” is to trade Nolan Arenado, per Cardinals front office
• Dodgers Shohei Ohtani “unlikely” to pitch in opening series
• Mookie Betts to play shortstop for Dodgers in 2025
• Mets shift focus to Pete Alonso after locking up Soto
• Phillies sign ex-closer Jordan Romano to 1-year deal
• For Cubs, Bellinger trade talks could heat up post-Soto deal
• Padres planning full-court press for Roki Sasaki
• Tigers sign starting pitcher Alex Cobb
• Tigers interested in Paul Goldschmidt
• Buster Posey downplays Camilo Doval trade
• Marlins fielding interest in Jesus Luzardo
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

And still a chance to add more:

A nugget of good news:

Sounds like the Giants got a good one: