A’s could target these Rays, Dodgers in offseason
The Oakland A’s aren’t an organization that signs many splashy free agents.
In recent history, players the A’s have signed have mostly been within the financial margins. Think T. J. McFarland and Jonathan Lucroy.
Others they’ve pulled off the scrap heap and turned them into gold. Think Scott Kazmir.
Some provided instant momentum. Think Yoenis Cespedes.
Others were redemption stories. Think Frank Thomas.
Free agency is difficult to predict, and it will be even more difficult this year in a market impacted by the pandemic. But the A’s could have a few gaps to fill.
And some of the holes could be filled by players now competing on the sport’s biggest stage. Here’s a breakdown of soon-to-be free agents on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays whom Oakland could put on its wish list. Some are no doubt pipe dreams, while others might be possible. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least likely, we rank the chances of World Series players signing with Oakland in the offseason:
Rays RHP Oliver Drake (7)
The A’s have a handful of bullpen arms entering free agency, including Yusmeiro Petit and Joakim Soria. If
Oakland can’t keep some of their own guys and want to go shopping, the touted Rays bullpen wouldn’t be a bad place to search. Oliver Drake is one of the few Rays relievers who doesn’t throw a four- seamer upward of 97 mph but has one of the league’s highest whiff and strikeout rates.
If you’ve been following the Rays’ postseason run and are wondering why Drake doesn’t ring a bell, it’s because Tampa Bay designated him for assignment before the American League Division Series. Drake, 34, had suffered a flexor strain in his right/ throwing arm.
Coming off an injury, Drake could be hitting free agency slightly under the radar.
Rays LHP Aaron Loup (7)
You will see Loup, 33, pitching for the Rays this postseason. And he doesn’t necessarily fit the “stable of guys who throw 98 mph” mold for which Tampa Bay’s bullpen is known. But the sinker- baller generates a ton of weak contact and has a 2.52 ERA this year.
The left-handed reliever is coming off a one-year, $1.65 million contract with the Rays. He could be on the A’s radar should they be looking to fill a bullpen gap from the left side.
Dodgers OF Joc Pederson (5)
Pederson, 28, checks almost all the boxes the A’s may be looking to fill
in a potential free agent. Left-handed? Check. Can play all three outfield positions? Check. Power? Check.
The Palo Alto High graduate could be interested in returning home for more of an everyday role with a contending team. He had a rough 2020, batting .190 in 43 games, but put together solid years at the plate in full 2019 and 2018 seasons, batting near .250 with a .846 and .843 OPS, respectively, in each. Something the A’s might love is the type of contact he can generate. Pederson’s 93 mph average exit velocity this year ranks in the league’s top four percentile. In previous seasons, he has ranked among the league’s best in barrel
rate and hard-hit rate. He tends to rack up the strikeouts, but he’s also demonstrated a keen eye that could be sharpened.
He may f lourish in a new landscape. And the Dodgers were close to trading him in the 2020 offseason. But like any other free agent, Pederson to Oakland is a longshot. He’s coming off a one-year, $ 7.75 million contract, pro-rated to $2.87 million this year.
Dodgers OF/INF Kiké Hernández (4)
Hernández checks some boxes the A’s could be looking for, too. He plays second base and shortstop, two potential gaps in the A’s roster. He also can play in the outfield. More versatility, another plus.
Hernández is a decent a ll- a round player who doesn’t stand out in any one category at the plate with a pretty high strikeout rate and low walk rate. He has provided some of the Dodgers’ biggest postseason moments, including his game-tying home run in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. He could come at a decent price, though. He would be coming off a one-year, $5.9 million contract.
But that versatility is something most teams covet, so the competition could be pretty stiff for Hernández’s services.
Dodgers INF Justin Turner (4)
Turner primarily plays third base with the Dodgers. The A’s have a third baseman they very much like and who makes the infield defense sing. But Turner has some infield versatility with which to work. He can play second and shortstop, both positions the A’s could have virtually open next year. The A’s have been open about their intent to re- sign second baseman Tommy La Stella and their homegrown talent at shortstop, Marcus Semien. How likely it is they can retain either or both remains to be seen.
Turner is one of the game’s great hitters with a keen eye and consistent ability to drive the ball. His career .292 average in 12 seasons is double- take worthy — and that basic statistic is representative of Turner’s overall- plus skills at the plate. But his defensive upside is waning, and at age 36, perhaps he’ll lose a step in a fast infield. Turner is coming off a four- year, $ 64 million contract with Los Angeles. Even on the back- end of his 30s, he could be out of the A’s price range. Still, his bat in the A’s lineup could bump this team up to another level. That’s fun to think about.