The A’s shocked by the baseball world by signing Luis Severino to a three-year, $67MM contract, as few anticipated the staff to make a franchise-record signing upfront of their deliberate three-year cease in West Sacramento earlier than transferring into their new ballpark in Las Vegas. The subsequent step might be locking up a star participant on an extension, as supervisor Mark Kotsay informed reporters (together with MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos) that the staff was “hopeful to get one thing finished with” Brent Rooker. Such a transfer would “proceed exhibiting a unique path for this group by way of making commitments to gamers,” Kotsay mentioned.
Whereas signing youthful or less-established gamers to extensions is frequent observe for all groups irrespective of their payroll measurement, the tactic naturally has higher import for lower-spending groups. Gaining price certainty on a participant by way of their arbitration years or gaining management over a free-agent 12 months or two can show to be an enormous cut price for golf equipment that aren’t comfy in spending huge to retain these gamers in free company, or to convey new high-priced expertise in as replacements.
Even with this in thoughts, the Athletics have not often seemed to increase gamers, as Khris Davis’ two-year, $33.5MM deal from April 2019 is (remarkably) the one extension signed by an A’s participant throughout the final decade. Utilizing MLBTR’s Contract Tracker to return even additional, the A’s have signed solely 9 extensions since October 2007. Of these 9 gamers, Sean Doolittle, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Kurt Suzuki the one gamers to signal offers longer than two years.
Rooker is already beneath staff management by way of the 2027 season, and is projected to earn $5.1MM in his first journey by way of the arbitration course of. The 30-year-old has greater than earned that wholesome wage, as Rooker has been nothing in need of excellent since coming to the then-Oakland A’s on a waiver declare from the Royals in November 2022. Whereas Rooker’s potential was hinted by his standing because the thirty fifth general choose of the 2017 draft, he’d hit solely .200/.289/.379 over 270 plate appearances with the Twins, Padres, and Royals over the 2020-22 seasons.
The breakout began in 2023 when Rooker hit .246/.329/.488 with 30 homers in 526 PA, and he stored on climbing with 39 dwelling runs and a .293/.365/.562 slash line over 614 PA this previous season. Solely six gamers in baseball had the next wRC+ than Rooker’s 164 complete, because the ex-waiver pickup unexpectedly blossomed into among the finest hitters within the recreation.
For the reason that Athletics had been considered rebuilding, there have been loads of commerce rumors swirling round Rooker, with the logic being that the A’s would look to capitalize on this found-money acquisition by promoting excessive. Nonetheless, GM David Forst firmly said final month that the A’s had been “going to maintain” the slugger, and an extension would additional cement Rooker’s place as a constructing block for the group.
Although the Athletics misplaced 93 video games in 2024, they appear emboldened by their 33-32 file over their closing 65 video games, and may be seeking to take a step ahead in direction of competition as quickly as subsequent 12 months. Even when Severino’s contract was partially impressed by the Athletics’ need to retain their revenue-sharing standing, the uncharacteristically huge splash signifies that the A’s are getting extra critical of their plans to play aggressive baseball.
It isn’t essentially a provided that the A’s are on the lookout for a really lengthy dedication to Rooker, as an extension might doubtlessly simply cowl his arb years. Locking in three years of wage now would possibly assist the Athletics save a bit of cash sooner or later if Rooker retains upping his price ticket along with his elite numbers. From Rooker’s perspective, he would possibly choose to maintain betting on himself, or he would possibly welcome the prospect to money in on his breakout with some life-changing monetary safety.