Oakland A's Reshape Roster: Key Decisions Ahead of Non-Tender Deadline

Well, the annual non-tender deadline has come and gone in Major League Baseball, and as expected, the Oakland Athletics made some notable moves to reshape their 40-man roster. It's always a bit of a nail-biter for players on the bubble, a moment where teams decide who they're going to commit to for the next season and who they'll, shall we say, set free into the open market.

This time around, the A's decided to tender contracts to two right-handed pitchers: Zach Jackson and Drew Rucinski. What does "tender" actually mean? Essentially, by offering a contract, the A's are retaining their rights to these players, ensuring they remain on the 40-man roster. Now, the two sides will either agree on a contract figure before arbitration, or they'll head to an arbitration hearing to determine their salaries. It’s a pretty standard procedure, really, but a crucial step in building a team.

Let's talk about Jackson first. He's been a pretty reliable arm out of the bullpen when healthy. In 2022, he posted a solid 3.00 ERA over 56 appearances, striking out 56 batters in 54 innings – quite respectable, if you ask me. Unfortunately, 2023 was a bit rougher, as he dealt with an elbow injury that sidelined him for most of the season. Still, the A's clearly see enough potential and a healthy future to keep him in the fold, which is a good sign for his comeback.

Then there's Drew Rucinski. He arrived last offseason with some intriguing international experience, having pitched really well in Korea. The hope was he could slot into the rotation, maybe even be a steady veteran presence. However, much like Jackson, Rucinski also spent a significant chunk of 2023 on the injured list with a stomach ailment. When he did pitch, it was a bit of a mixed bag – 6.91 ERA in nine appearances, including five starts. Despite the struggles and injuries, the A's are clearly giving him another shot to prove his worth, perhaps hoping he can regain his form and contribute more effectively next season.

Of course, with players being tendered, others unfortunately had to go. The A's opted to non-tender three players, making them free agents immediately. These were outfielder/infielder Miguel Andujar, right-handed reliever Angel Felipe, and left-handed reliever Francisco Pérez. Andujar, who came over in a trade with the Yankees not too long ago, never really found his footing in Oakland, hitting just .200 in 10 games this past season. Felipe and Pérez also struggled to consistently make an impact at the big-league level.

Additionally, infielder Kevin Smith and outfielder Trenton Brooks, who had both been outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas recently, chose to elect free agency rather than accept the minor league assignment. It’s a common decision for players with some big-league service time under their belts, as they seek new opportunities elsewhere.

All these roster gymnastics bring the A's 40-man roster down to 36 players. That’s four open spots, which is actually quite significant. It gives the front office plenty of flexibility to explore options in free agency, consider potential trade acquisitions, or make selections in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. For a team like the A's, who are very much in a rebuilding phase, these open slots are like blank canvases, ready for new talent to be painted onto the roster. It'll be interesting to see how they fill them out!