The Oakland A’s are looking to keep players, for once
As they linger on the periphery of the playoff race, the Oakland A’s have an eye beyond 2018.
One of the surprise teams in MLB this year is the Oakland A’s, at 49-40 entering Sunday’s action. But they are 10 games back of the first place Houston Astros in the AL West, and 6.5 games back in the Wild Card race. So barring something unforeseen, like a 20-game winning streak (see the 2002 season), a postseason berth seems unlikely this year.
Trimming payroll and being a trade deadline seller go hand-in-hand for the A’s, as they play in the worst ballpark in baseball and aren’t flush with revenue. But with an eye past this season, they are looking to secure the services of a couple key players.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s have had numerous talks with the agent for outfielder Khris Davis about a multi-year contract extension. Over three seasons in Oakland he has hit 106 home runs over 381 games, including 21 so far this season and over 40 in both 2016 and 2017. He is making $10.5 million this year, with one more year of arbitration eligibility before hitting free agency.
Perhaps in an effort to convince Davis to sign a multi-year deal, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and The Athletic reported the A’s are considering a contract extension for Jed Lowrie. Thus far in the final year of his contract, the veteran infielder has posted a .291/.359/.503 slash-line with 15 home runs, 61 RBI and 25 doubles.
Khris Davis calls Jed Lowrie “the glue that makes everything else stick.” Says he doesn’t want to hit behind anyone else.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 8, 2018
Under typical circumstances for the A’s, Lowrie would be a prime trade chip between now and the deadline. But a reasonable one or two-year contract extension for the 34-year old appears to be the priority right now, as Oakland only has guaranteed salary commitment to two players for 2019.
Davis is a little younger at 30 years old, with power that has somehow been fully unlocked in a pitcher-friendly home park. So a commitment pushing toward three years, against the template the A’s have generally followed, will likely be required.
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If extension talks stall over the next few weeks, Lowrie and/or Davis could still entice contending teams on the trade market. But as of now, Billy Beane and the rest of the Oakland front office seems to see them as two key pieces of a 2019 playoff contender.