MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help A’s in 2019
By Sean Sears
Oakland has plenty of young talent making their way to the Coliseum, but here are five names that could be here sooner than the rest.
Entering Sunday, the Athletics’ record was 10-8 and had them sitting 3.5 games back from the first-place Seattle Mariners. Khris Davis has helped the A’s smash their way back to a winning record, scoring the third-most runs in the league with 94. But as potent as their offense has been, Oakland’s pitching, particularly their starters, hasn’t been on the same level with a team 4.23 ERA.
Oakland already has four starting pitchers on the IL and we haven’t even wrapped up the first month of the season. And while the A’s fill-in starters have held their own for the moment, Billy Beane knows he may have to dip into the farm system for help. Lucky for him, he’s got options.
But outside of the pitching, the A’s only have three true infielders on the roster at the moment in Jurickson Profar, Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman. Adding another infielder with versatility won’t be hard to find for the Athletics, but the team doesn’t want to rush a player’s development just to play every other day.
If the Mariners can keep pace with the A’s and Astros, Oakland has difference-makers in their farm system that could sway the AL West their way.