MLB news roundup
Morning everyone and welcome to a brand new week!
We got a Christmas present this year when the Athletics announced that they’d locked up left fielder Tyler Soderstrom for the foreseeable future with a contract extension. That should hopefully be the first of several that the front office issues out to the younger core guys. We’ll all be hoping to see reigning AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz and runner-up Jacob Wilson sign on the dotted line next.
The team’s positions are mostly set as well now with the recent trade for second baseman Jeff McNeil. As far as the position player side of things the lineup is set everywhere except for the hot corner. The A’s are reportedly set to go into the season with their in-house options for third base, and the hope is that someone from the group can take ahold of the position.
Right now the top options for the Opening Day assignment are Max Muncy and Darell Hernaiz. Muncy, a former first-round pick, broke camp last year with the team and was the starting second baseman on Opening Day. It was a slightly aggressive promotion and it showed as the then-22-year-old struggled in his first taste of The Show. He never quite got going with the bat but he did contribute 9 long balls in just 63 games.
Hernaiz meanwhile saw plenty of field time in the final two months of the year and had some moments, though he’s always profiled more as a backup or utility piece rather than a starter, especially at the hot corner. He’s spent two years in Triple-A and has put up great numbers at the final level of the minors but he hasn’t been able to get that to translate to the big leagues yet. Hernaiz is still young at just 24 years old but he’s unlikely to suddenly turn into a power threat.
The two options mentioned had different batting profiles so it could come down to what kind of bat manager Mark Kotsay wants near the bottom of the lineup. There’s always the possibility of a late outside addition but that seems unlikely at this point. They could experiment with Zack Gelof at the hot corner but it’s been a few years since he played the position in the minors and he’s never played it as a big leaguer. It wouldn’t be shocking in the slightest if we hear that Gelof is getting third base reps when everyone reports in a couple of months.
So who would you give the early edge to for the starting third base spot? Muncy? Hernaiz? A wild card? Discuss below! And have a good Monday A’s fans!
A’s Coverage:
- A’s, Tyler Soderstrom Agree On 7 Year/$86 Million Contract Extension
- Soderstrom Extension Raises Question About “Who’s Next?”
- Longtime A’s Scout Will Schock passes away at 61
- A’s acquire Jeff McNeil
- Athletics Reportedly Sign Mark Leiter Jr.
- 2025 Athletics Season In Review: Miguel Andujar
- 2025 Athletics Season in Review: Brent Rooker
- 2025 Athletics Season In Review: Brady Basso
- 2025 Athletics Season In Review: Max Schuemann
- 2025 Athletics Season In Review: Zack Gelof
- 2025 Athletics Season In Review: Eduarniel Nunez
MLB News and Interest:
- Cubs sign reliever Hunter Harvey to one-year deal
- Latest on Tigers, Alex Bregman
- Reds sign former A’s outfielder JJ Bleday to one-year contract
- Reds acquire outfielder Dane Myers in trade with Marlins
- Left-handed Andrew Heaney retires after 12 MLB seasons
- Marlins finalized one-year contract with closer Pete Fairbanks
- Red Sox still interested in infield addition
- Several teams interested in Yoan Moncada
- Today in baseball history
Best of X
The A’s lost one of their best longtime scouts:
All recent transactions in one spot:
Think Bleday will thrive in Cincy?
Category: General Sports
