The Athletics officially said farewell to the city of Oakland this past season. They’ll spend the next three years playing at minor-league ballpark in Sacramento until they’re ready to move to Las Vegas. The team reportedly tried to sign free-agent starting pitcher Walker Buehler recently. However, Buehler was uninterested in signing with the Athletics due to not wanting to play in Sacramento. It’s hard to blame him since he’d go from playing in Dodger Stadium to a Triple-A ballpark. Given the turmoil surrounding this team, no free agent should want to sign with the Athletics if they can help it.
More Players Should Feel Like Walker Buehler
Embed from Getty ImagesA report came out recently that the Athletics were attempting to sign former Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler. This was surprising given how the A’s payrolls have been at the bottom of the league during John Fisher’s entire ownership. Under Fisher’s ownership, the team has very rarely ever been linked to big-name free agents. However, Buehler didn’t express any interest in return due to not wanting to play in Sacramento. Hard to blame Buehler for this decision as he’d be going from playing in Dodger Stadium to a Triple-A ballpark. I’m sure the clown show environment that surrounds this team also factored into his disinterest. More players like Buehler should feel the same way.
They’re Playing In A Minor League Stadium
Embed from Getty ImagesThis past season, the Athletics officially departed the city of Oakland. Next season, the Athletics will temporarily play at Sutter Health Park for at least three years before relocating to Las Vegas. Sutter Health Park is also a minor league ballpark home to the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate. This is far from ideal for the players and staff as they’ll be playing in a makeshift MLB stadium for a while. There are currently 5,500 players that are playing baseball for MLB-affiliated minor-league teams. All of them dream of playing in ballparks like Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium, not Sutter Health Park. The situation also isn’t ideal for players with families given that Sacramento is only a temporary home for the team.
This Team Isn’t Close To Being A Contender
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Athletics had a 19-win improvement from 2023 and even finished the second half of the season with a winning record. However, the team still lost 93 games. The only worthwhile players are Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler, and Mason Miller. Rooker and Miller will possibly be traded at some point next season. It has been four seasons since the A’s last went to the postseason and they aren’t even close to seriously contending. While the Athletics will try and attract a big-name free agent; none of them will want to play for a team that is in a never-ending rebuild.
Only Players That Are Desperate Sign With The A’s
Embed from Getty ImagesvThe Athletics are the kind of team that anybody who is at least a competent MLB player can play on. Players typically use the A’s to either revive their careers in a non-pressurized environment or prolong retirement. Players trying to rejuvenate their careers are focused on building enough value to later be traded to a postseason contender. The older veterans trying to push off retirement are just trying to stay in the show. Those kinds of players are more about themselves than about the team having success. A team full of these kinds of players is rarely successful and never wins a championship.
This Team Is Still Buried In Turmoil
Embed from Getty ImagesThere is still plenty of turmoil surrounding this team from how they left Oakland and trying to get to Las Vegas. It seems like this franchise has multiple embarrassments happening each month of the year. It’s already difficult enough to win series much less with the daily distractions that surround an MLB team. Owner John Fisher has clearly shown that he doesn’t care about whether the team is successful or not. No free agent should sign with a team that has an owner like Fisher. Given the kind of problems the franchise has currently, it’ll be very difficult for the team to have success.
Nobody Should Even Hear The A’s Sales Pitch
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile the Athletics may be courting free-agent players, none of them should be interested in signing with them. Heck, they don’t even want to call themselves the “Sacramento Athletics.” The team lost 93 games last season and is far away from being a postseason contender. There is also so much turmoil currently surrounding this team, making it difficult to have success. Given that the team is slated to officially relocate to Las Vegas in three years, the situation is bad for families. Owner John Fisher has made it very clear he could care less about the team and their families. The team is also playing in a Triple-A stadium that’s masquerading as an MLB ballpark making the situation even worse. Unless a player is desperate to rejuvenate their career or put off retirement, then they shouldn’t even hear the A’s sales pitch.
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