MLB Winter Meetings: Four questions for the Oakland A’s

The Oakland Athletics have some straightforward goals this offseason. The Winter Meetings could facilitate some key transactions.

The Winter Meetings will kick off on Monday in San Diego, which means conversations between clubs, players and agents running over the phone can move face-to-face for the week.

This also provides a peek into the Oakland A’s — and other teams’ of course — priorities heading into the offseason. This season, those priorities seem pretty straightforward. But here’s a list of questions heading into the meetings.

Will Blake Treinen return? Will the A’s add more bullpen arms?

It’s a possibility. The A’s non-tendered the right-handed reliever on Monday, but have kept in contact with the 2018 All-Star. There is a chance he returns to Oakland on a free agent deal.

“We will continue to be in conversations for relief pitching,” Forst said. “I think I mentioned somewhere the other day we are continuing to talk to Blake. We non-tendered him on Monday, but part of that was keeping the option open to re-sing him. There will obviously be a lot of interest in him.”

Letting Treinen hit the market is surely a risk, but one that is perhaps worth being free of the  expected $8 million contract in arbitration. Any team looking for a reliever, possible closer, capable of throwing an un-hittable 100 mph sinker that once garnered a .78 ERA will express interest. Though, the A’s may have a window if the recency bias — a 4.91 ERA and injuries — turns teams off.

The proposed MLB rule that would allow pitchers to face no less than three batters is certainly a factor in the A’s free agency process. Now, bullpen arms who have success against right-handed and left-handed hitters rise to the top of the want list. It definitely contributed to T.J. McFarland’s signing and Jake Diekman’s return.

Right-handed hitters slashed 210/.347/.329 with a .675 OPS against Diekman. Left-handed hitters went .224/.362/.294 with a .656 OPS. He had a 2.74 strikeout-to-walk ratio against righties, 1.31 against lefties in 2019. Those splits aren’t as favorable for McFarland, though his ability to face both is part of his appeal. Right-handers slashed .343/.410/.514 with a .925 OPS, left-handers slashed .292/.336/.433 with a .769 OPS.

What is the state of the rotation?

In recent offseason’s past — with injuries abound and prospects growing — the A’s had to create rotations nearly from scratch. Now?

“That’s clearly not the case now,” Forst said. “We have depth at that position.”

We can draw something up now, in December, even: Sean Manaea, Mike Fiers, Frankie Montas, Jesús Luzardo and A.J. Puk are expected to make up the core of the rotation with Chris Bassitt, Daniel Mengden and most likely Daniel Gossett helping with innings load. There’s long arms in house.

“At the same time, the old adage, you can never have too much pitching certainly applies,” Forst said.

The main concern with the rotation might be that Luzardo and Puk have very few full seasons between them. Luzardo has only pitched more than 100 innings once in his career — 109 in 2018. Puk only pitched full seasons in college at Florida, he pitched 125 innings in 2017.

Adding to the rotation may not be a priority topic at the Winter Meetings, but it’s worth keeping up with what is expected of the young flamethrowers heading into the season.

Will the A’s extend Marcus Semien?

It’s one step at a time with this team, and Semien should be the focal point on extension talks. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson are certainly on the horizon.

Semien was tendered a contract for 2020, and could make upwards or around $13.5 million on that contract. But an extension is still a possibility.

Who will play second base?

Franklin Barreto? Jorge Mateo? Sheldon Neuse?

Jurickson Profar’s trade opened things up in the middle infield a bit. And Forst articulated clearly that the middle infield should be a spot where the A’s can plug in a left-handed hitter. However, this is also an opportunity for Barreto, Mateo and Neuse to break out onto the MLB scene.

I outlined the second base situation here.

It looks like there will be some moves in motion, so keep a close eye on the team.