Oakland Athletics Roundup: Seeking Starting Pitchers; Trading Ike Davis

Oakland Athletics Roundup: Monday, November 16

When the Oakland Athletics’ front office announced that they were sticking with their current outfield, they also mentioned that they would instead be searching for a starter.

That brings into question what the A’s are thinking about their current rotation candidates. Assuming Sonny Gray is a lock for the ace spot, that leaves a plethora of candidates for the remaining spots. Will Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin be able to come back? Maybe the Athletics front office has questions about their health, or that of Jesse Hahn.

There are also several young candidates in Kendall Graveman, Chris Bassitt and even Aaron Brooks, not to mention veterans like Jesse Chavez and Drew Pomeranz, who will likely end up in the bullpen due to a lack of open spots in the rotation. What makes the Athletics front office think that they need more help?

For now, they aren’t sharing any further information, but it’s definitely concerning. If they truly believed that Parker and Griffin were set to return, it seems unlikely that they would spend big bucks on a pitching upgrade in free agency – especially with prospects like Sean Manaea so close to the major leagues.

More from White Cleat Beat

• San Francisco Giants showing Oakland A’s offseason could be worse
• Lucas Luetge what Oakland A’s need in bullpen
• Oakland A’s bring Deolis Guerra back on minor league deal
• How much will Oakland A’s improvements matter in 2023?
• Oakland A’s giving Drew Rucinski a chance to prove himself

In Case You Missed It:

Could Billy Butler Be the Odd Man Out? – Could Billy Butler be on the trading block if he continues to struggle? Casey Witt looks at what the A’s will do with the cleanup spot in their lineup, and examines the team’s motives behind bidding on Byung-ho Park.

Should the A’s Trade Ike Davis? – Ike Davis isn’t a bad first baseman, but a roster crunch at first base will affect how much playing time he gets next season. Katrina Putnam explains why the Athletics should try to deal him now and see what they can get in return.

#Athletics:

Next: Who Should Start the Season At Third Base?

Around the Web

FanSided: Make Sure an A’s Fan is Crowned Fan of the Year – By now, you’ve probably seen this contest mentioned on Twitter or Facebook. But there’s still time to enter! Why are you the A’s number one fan? Submit your entry for a chance to win and be featured in Sports Illustrated.