Elephant Rumblings: Sears adjusts approach ahead of 2025 breakout bid

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

JP Sears has anchored the A’s rotation through the past two seasons, leading the team in games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts in 2023 and 2024. The A’s have secured an influx of additional pitching depth for 2025 that includes $67 million free agent and two-time All-Star Luis Severino, and if Sears can deliver on another 30-plus starts worth of consistent back-of-rotation quality work (his career FIP is 4.81), it could give the A’s a shot at flirting with .500 or better ball.

But Sears is showing signs that he means to elevate his game this season rather than being overshadowed by newer teammates like Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Osvaldo Bido. As Patrick Brown at MLB.com noted after Sunday’s outing against the Dodgers, Sears is bringing the windup back to his approach for the first time since 2019.

Sears said that he and A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson decided to bring the windup back to the 29-year-old lefty’s game to “Help out with my timing, help out with my rhythm, and help out with the pitch timer a little bit.”

We know that Sears is capable of spinning gems on the mound. If the offseason work pays off for the A’s workhorse, and the new rotation arms deliver on some upside potential, we could be enjoying some consistently decent starting pitching through the A’s inaugural season in Sacramento.

Have a terrific week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Coach Blogfather’s Instructions For Cactus League Focus
• A’s allow 8 runs to Dodgers
• Athletics fall to Angels 5-0 in Spring Training Tune Up
• A’s trounce Reds in 13-1 victory
• ‘Buying in’ on himself, Sears brings back the windup
• Called home: Giants’ Grant McCray deeply saddened by the death of Rickey Henderson ($)
• Bleday on ‘right trajectory’ for more after strong ‘24
• It’s Harris, by a hair! … or is it? Braves-A’s rivalry, legend grow

MLB News & Interest:

• Rob Manfred considering removing Pete Rose from MLB’s ineligible list: Source ($)
• Brewers Hire Billy Eppler As Special Advisor
• Giancarlo Stanton To Begin Season On Injured List
• Out Of Options 2025
• Trea Turner challenges first pitch of the day from Max Scherzer and frivolity ensues ($)
• Yankees Notes: LeMahieu, Outfield, Judge
• Yankees Have Had “Some Contact With” J.D. Martinez
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Weekend cuts.

Dodgers tore up A’s pitching yesterday.