While most teams around the league will be enjoying the fourth and final day of the All-Star break Thursday, the Oakland Athletics open the second half with a pair of games at the Coliseum against the Detroit Tigers.
An A’s team that has played its best ball since the opening week of the regular season could be eager to return to the field after taking two of three from the Astros and winning two of their last three series. But even with the last-place Tigers coming to town, the A’s are preparing to face a new set of challenges during the second half of the season.
Here’s a look at the most pressing questions surrounding the A’s and what to expect during a pivotal stretch for a rebuilding club.
1. How will Frankie Montas bounce back?
Montas, the ace of Oakland’s staff, hasn’t pitched since shoulder inflammation forced him to leave his July 1 start against the Mariners after just one inning. The right-hander avoided a trip to the injured list, but was unable to pitch in Houston last weekend as the A’s wanted to make sure Montas received extra rest before he likely returns to the mound in one of the club’s two games against Detroit on Thursday.
A healthy, productive return for Montas is key for both the pitcher and the team. Considered one of the top starters expected to be dealt this summer, Montas will surely attract interest from contending teams with strong performances prior to the Aug. 2 trade deadline. Strong performances will help the A’s, too, who are looking to maximize a potential return and secure a haul of prospects for a pitcher who is under team control through the 2023 season.
2. Who stays and who goes?
Outfielder Ramón Laureano, catcher Sean Murphy and reliever Lou Trivino could all find themselves the subject of trade speculation in the coming weeks. Each player could make a contending team better, but Oakland may not be compelled to move any member of the trio if a potential return isn’t going to make future A’s teams better.
After trading four fan favorites –Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson– ahead of Opening Day, it’s possible there could be a fire sale in Oakland at the deadline. Yet aside from Montas, there aren’t any players who are considered “likely” to be traded. It could be a tense few weeks for a team with a first-year manager in Mark Kotsay who knows players are looking for certainty about their future.
3. How does Kotsay handle the post-deadline A’s?
Considering the circumstances –Oakland is a last-place team in the early stages of a potentially lengthy rebuild– Kotsay has a tough situation. After the dust settles following the deadline, there will be players who likely wanted the opportunity to play for a contending club who are still in Oakland and players who could see their roles change depending on who the A’s acquire in deals or promote from the minor leagues.
The final two months of the season offer a chance for Kotsay to build his credibility with the front office, his players and an A’s fan base that wants to see the team improve during the second half, regardless of which veterans are left on the roster.
4. How will the A’s find playing time for young players and prospects?
After an impressive first half at Triple-A Las Vegas, it’s increasingly clear Futures Game MVP Shea Langeliers is deserving of a big league opportunity. Whether the A’s trade Murphy or not, Oakland should seriously consider creating a pathway for playing time for Langeliers, a 2019 first-round draft pick who was acquired in the trade that sent Olson to Atlanta.
The A’s might also be ready to give outfielder Cristian Pache another look at the big league level after he followed a disappointing stretch in the majors by hitting .327 with a .985 OPS in his first 49 at-bats back at Triple-A. Will infielders Nick Allen and Jonah Bride feature more prominently in Oakland’s second-half plans? How about starter Adrián Martinez, who has struggled at Triple-A but could be needed in the majors again if Montas is traded?
Creating consistent opportunities for young players should be a priority for the A’s, even if Oakland doesn’t make many trades.
5. Will the A’s challenge records for futility?
Even after posting a 7-8 record to start the month, the A’s (32-61) are still playing at a 56-win pace. This group is nowhere near as bad as the 1916 Philadelphia A’s who finished 36-117-1 or the 1919 team that went 36-104, but there’s concern that transactions that could potentially weaken an already overmatched roster will put the A’s in jeopardy of challenging the 1979 team (54-108) for the worst club Oakland has ever seen.
Aside from all the losing, this year’s A’s team has a historically inept offense that could wind up in all of the wrong places in the franchise record book. Their .211 batting average is 12 points below the worst mark in franchise history set by the 1908 A’s while the 3.29 runs per game scored by the 2022 squad is the lowest total since the 1978 team scored 3.28 runs per game, a low water mark for any A’s club since the franchise moved to Oakland in 1968.
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