Seven A's players who could be on different teams next season
Jessica Kleinschmidt examines seven players who will be free agents this offseason and could have played their last season in an A's uniform in 2020.
The A’s aren't playing in the ALCS, but don’t worry, there’s even worse news. A’s fans might have to say goodbye to some of their favorite players in free agency.
It’s all part of the game, but it might be more painful this time around for Oakland. Bay Area native Marcus Semien, who created a name for himself on the field and in the community, could sign elsewhere.
There is something to look forward to next season, however. It turns out the A’s don’t have too many holes to fill on the roster, but just as it is with every team, needs have to be met.
Here are seven players who might have played their last game in an A’s uniform in 2020.
I know, it’s not easy to read (or write) about, but shortstop Marcus Semien will head into free agency this offseason for the first time in his eight-year career. It’s new territory for him, and he’s expected to create some buzz as one of the more popular players in the pool.
Semien was third in AL MVP voting in 2019 after leading the league with 747 plate appearances and starting in all 162 games at shortstop for the A's, reaching a personal career goal of his. He also slashed .285/.369/.522, hit 33 home runs and posted an .892 OPS.
Semien's numbers dipped in 2020, but that could be a promising sign the A’s have a decent chance of holding on to him after six seasons. Oakland's brain trust made it clear they want him back.
Liam Hendriks earned an All-Star selection in 2019 when he boasted a 1.80 ERA, and he surpassed that this season with a 1.78 ERA and 0.671 WHIP. He also brought his cat Winnie along for the ride -- well, sorta.
Hendriks avoided arbitration with the A’s last offseason, and he had one of the better stories in baseball. After being designated for assignment multiple times, he truly established himself as one of the best closers in the bigs. Hendriks will attract a lot of interest from other teams.
Speaking of one of the best in the big leagues …
Any time Yusmeiro Petit comes into the ballgame, no matter the situation, he’s going to take care of it. Runners on base? No problem. Runners on base with less than two outs? Still not a problem.
His quiet demeanor shouldn’t take away from the fact that the guy has absolute ice in his veins. After 13 years in the majors, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Petit posted a career-low 1.66 ERA in 2020 and pitched in an AL-leading 80 games the year before. He should be able to make some noise in free agency, but to be honest, I can’t imagine him anywhere else but Oakland.
The A’s struck big when they acquired Tommy La Stella from the Los Angeles Angels. He checked all of the boxes:
- Doesn’t strike out.
- Left-handed bat.
- Can play anywhere in the infield.
- No seriously, he doesn’t strike out. La Stella totaled just 12 strikeouts this season in 97 at-bats and hit .289.
He might be back next season, however. A’s executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane made it very clear one of the team’s priorities for next season is to bring La Stella back.
A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty told NBC Sports California midseason that anytime he was on base and Robbie Grossman was up to bat, he knew he would be scoring soon.
Grossman’s plate adjustment might have appeared to be small, but it made a big impact on the lineup. His numbers dipped toward the end of the season, but he still managed to get 40 hits in 51 games.
Grossman, who also avoided arbitration last season with the A’s, worked on this particular change while the start of the season was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. He could be extremely valuable to any lineup, but A's fans shouldn't forget how he added some spice to the lineup.
Mike Fiers essentially became the old head in the A’s rotation in 2020. He signed a two-year, $14.1 million contract with Oakland at the end of 2018, which means he will be a free agent this offseason.
Fiers threw the second no-hitter of his career last season against the Cincinnati Reds. How he was capable of two of them, we’re still not sure. He told NBC Sports California at the beginning of the year that he didn’t do anything differently to obtain such feats. And while he’s not a guy who has velocity behind his pitches, he’s been able to utilize some of his specialty pitches to stay employed for the last decade.
This last season, Fiers boasted a 4.58 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 59 innings.
The A’s like Fiers' veteran presence. That's imperative to any team, especially one constantly eyeing the playoffs each year. There's a good case to bring him back, but we’ll see.
When Mike Minor was acquired by the A’s from the Texas Rangers around the trade deadline, he said he was open to any role the team would give him. He stayed true to that statement, starting during the regular season and pitching out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
The A’s paid a big chunk of his salary while obtaining him, and despite his 5.48 ERA in 2020, he has been solid in the past. His experience is valuable, but it’s uncertain he could be a standout ace that they need.
