MLB Winter Meetings: A’s lose All-Star closer, Coliseum to add more netting
With big waves breaking around them, waters remain relatively calm in the Oakland A’s camp at the Winter Meetings in San Diego.
There are, however, some rumblings and moves that effect the A’s side. Here are some takeaways from Day 3.
Commissioner Rob Manfred on netting and new ballpark
A seat down the foul lines and up close to the action can be thrilling, but dangerous. A handful of viewers throughout a couple ballparks have been struck by hot line drives — some young, some distracted, some unable to move fast enough. One woman died.
One of the benefits of the Coliseum’s expansive foul territory, other than the space for defensive magic, is the extra distance between a snapping line drive and a vulnerable audience.
That said — with the Raiders moving out — the A’s will extend the netting behind home plate all the way to the foul poles.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said it is asked that all 30 teams extend the netting at their respective ballparks.
He also spoke on the MLB’s commitment to keeping the A’s in Oakland with the proposed new ballpark at Howard Terminal.
“I am encouraged that Mayor (Libby Schaaf) and city council found a way to put the lawsuit behind us and make a commitment to the negotiation with the A’s on the Coliseum site,” Manfred told reporters in San Diego. “It was and remains my hope that the A’s stay in Oakland. I think one of the things baseball has done well over decades its commitment to its current cities and we would desperately like to maintain our commitment to the city of Oakland. I think the Wild Card game and the excitement surrounding it shows there is a fan base there. But, the clock is ticking. It’s time to get to it in terms of that stadium.”
Blake Treinen and Tanner Roark find new homes
Treinen was expected to make around $7.8 million in arbitration. Too rich for the Oakland A’s blood. So the team non-tendered him and kept in contact with Treinen, who relayed their communications to his agent — the A’s were still interested in a reunion, it was clear.
But once a $10 million contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the table, a reunion flew out the window.
Right-hander Blake Treinen is in agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year, $10 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Treinen had multiple offers in that range and chose the Dodgers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2019
“I said it was a very difficult decision for us to make,” general manager David Forst said. “I had a great conversation with Blake that night (he was non-tendered). Happy for him that it was resolved quickly. Obviously made a lot of money and wish him the best bouncing back.
“I knew at some point it would get beyond where we were going to be able to do something.”
Treinen struggled in 2019 with the A’s, posting a 4.91 ERA and 5.14 FIP. The Dodgers surly saw eight-figure potential in the right-handed closer’s .79 ERA, 1.82 FIP, 38 save, 100 strikeout 2018 season.
Right-handed starter Tanner Roark, acquired at the deadline from the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, signed a two-year, $24 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Roark had a 4.58 ERA in 55 innings (10 starts) with the A’s.
Right-hander Tanner Roark and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2019
Jed Lowrie back?
What’s an Oakland A’s offseason without a rumored player-team reunion?
The San Francisco Chronicle hinted that the A’s could be sniffing a potential reunion with once long-tenured second baseman Jed Lowrie.
Lowrie, 35, hit .267 last season with the New York Mets. He fits the mold the A’s are looking for: a switch hitting middle infielder.
The AL West giveth, the AL West taketh away
Late Tuesday night, news spilled of Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees. The A’s would have to think a little bit less about how to combat the flame-throwing ace.
“Good for Gerrit Cole, good for the A’s,” Forst said on Wednesday.
With one star departure comes another star arrival into the division. World Series champion and MVP finalist Anthony Rendon signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night, as first reported by Jeff Passan at ESPN.
Anthony Rendon got seven years and $245 million from the Angels, source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2019
And, it sounds like Rendon was also considering the Texas Rangers as a landing spot (he grew up in Houston).
Sources: Rangers offered Rendon six years, fell just shy of $200 million
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 12, 2019
So, lets reconsider the Angels’ core hitters: Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Shohei Ohtani make for a scary middle of the order with top prospect Jo Adell on the horizon. The A’s want a division title? Competition for one will just keep brewing into different iterations.