Oakland Athletics 2018 Season Preview

The next Oakland Athletics rebuild continued last year, even if they refuse to admit that they are in rebuild mode.

Last year, the Oakland Athletics were not expected to do well in the American League West. They had continued along their plan, moving pieces for prospects and looking for bargains. While the Athletics had hoped to contend last year, they struggled to a 75-87 recod, finishing last in the West.

And yet, there were positive signs for the future. Matt Chapman looked like a future Gold Glover at third, finishing second in the league with 10 runs saved in just over half a season. Matt Olson crushed the ball in the final two months of the season, crushing 24 homers in 216 plate appearances. Franklin Barreto is the future in Oakland in the middle of the infield, and is likely to be eased into action after a brief taste of the majors last year.

However, as bright as the Athletics future may be in the lineup, their struggles came down to pitching. Jharel Cotton did not continue to progress as he was expected to last year, and spent some time in the minors. Staff ace Sonny Gray is gone, sent to New York at the deadline. Now, the A’s are counting on Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea to take that next step forward, becoming the top of the rotation pieces they had hoped for.

However, just because the Oakland Athletics find themselves in a tough division, that does not mean that they are willing to give up. Instead, they very quietly made some solid additions to the roster, showing that while they are building for the future, they are not giving up on the present.