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The Athletics have added a few nice players to their roster and extended Tyler Soderstrom to a big deal this offseason. Jeff McNeil is a nice pickup, while Mark Leiter Jr. is a solid arm to bolster the bullpen.
But, while those moves are nice, the A's still desperately need to improve the starting rotation this offseason. Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs aren't enough, as another veteran starter would be a big upgrade for the Athletics in 2026.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand linked the Athletics to three starting pitching options. While they aren't the Framber Valdez, Chris Bassitt, or Zac Gallen of the free agency cycle, they are solid non-elite pitchers to round out the A's rotation this year.
Athletics linked to trio of non-elite starting pitchers
"It's unlikely that the A's will sign any of the top pitchers still on the market," Feinsand writes, "but veterans such as Jose Quintana, Zack Littell, or Jordan Montgomery could make sense."
The A's adding to their rotation is a must this offseason, and while they won't be going after the elite options at the top of the market, one of these three veterans would be nice.
Quintana is 37 years old and coming off a solid year for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025. He had a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts, posting an 11-7 record in the process.
His 3.76 career ERA over a 14-year career is also a good number. He's a veteran, one-year rental option that could be traded at the deadline if needed.
Littell is a bit different, as he's just 30 years old and is coming off a more impressive season. Across 32 starts between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cincinnati Reds, Littell posted a 3.81 ERA with 3.2 bWAR.
More: MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
He could be a multi-year option for the A's this offseason. He's a bit younger than some of the other options, and while his 3.88 career ERA isn't the best, it's a solid mark worth investing in from the Athletics' perspective.
Lastly, Montgomery is the worst option. In 2023, for the Texas Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals, he won the World Series with the Rangers while posting a 2.79 ERA in his final 11 starts, and overall, had a 3.20 ERA on the season.
But after an injury-shortened 2024 season where he posted a 6.23 ERA, Montgomery didn't pitch in 2025. He's a major risk, but because of that, he could likely be signed for very little compared to these other options.
While none of these three options Feinsand links the A's to is an elite starter, they're all solid options for the Athletics to build up their lackluster rotation.
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