A's linked to top free agent bat while pitching remains a huge need

Offense was not something that was hard to come by for the Athletics during the 2025 season. Between guys like Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler stepping up last season, they pushed runs across at a great clip.

They ended the regular season with a team batting average of .253, which ranked them fifth across MLB. They had the same batting average as the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are coming off two World Series victories. 

An area that let the club down in 2025 was its pitching. Luis Severino was two different pitchers at home and away. The rotation finished the regular season with a team ERA of 4.70, which ranked them 27th. 

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A's linked to top free agent bat while pitching remains a huge need

While the A's need pitching, they have done very little to address that. The only move they made in that regard was signing Mark Leiter Jr. to a one-year deal as a bullpen piece. 

While there are some intriguing pitchers still looking for their next contract, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly suggests they could come to terms with the top-hitting free agent, Eugenio Suarez.

"Let's face it, as long as the Athletics are playing their home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento—a Triple-A stadium—they are going to have a difficult time attracting veterans with other options. Still, it's interesting to think about Suarez as a fit for the A's because they were willing to commit to a pair of seasons with Arenado."

The A's were looking to acquire Nolan Arenado before he went to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They were willing to absorb more money than the D-Backs were willing to, but likely with their outlook and playing in a Triple-A park, he settled with Arizona. Now, the A's could circle back and try to sign Suarez, but they will face the same disadvantage that they did with Arenado. 

While they are playing in Sacramento, it will always be hard for them to pull big-time players. But who knows? Maybe they can get a deal done with Suarez and worry about the pitching front after.

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