Headlines

  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

A’s Don’t Expect To Trade Paul Blackburn, Seth Brown

By Anthony Franco | December 5, 2023 at 1:29am CDT

A’s general manager David Forst chatted with reporters on Monday evening, discussing a few areas of the roster. Perhaps most notably, the GM said he didn’t expect to trade either starter Paul Blackburn or outfielder Seth Brown this offseason (relayed by John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle).

Blackburn has been the subject of trade speculation as far back as the 2022 deadline. The right-hander has turned in serviceable back-of-the-rotation numbers for the past two seasons, combining to post a 4.35 ERA in 215 innings. That has arguably made him Oakland’s most reliable starter, although he battled some injuries on his throwing hand late in 2022 and early in the ’23 campaign.

The A’s control Blackburn, who turned 30 on Monday, for two additional seasons. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $3.2MM arbitration salary. Brown, who is controllable for three years, is projected at $2.4MM. The lefty-swinging corner outfielder had a down season in 2023, hitting .222/.286/.405 in 378 plate appearances. He’d posted a more robust .230/.305/.444 showing — albeit mostly in favorable platoon situations — the year before.

Those are modest salaries by MLB standards, but there’d been some speculation that the A’s could look to tear spending down even further. Forst suggested that’s not the case, telling reporters he anticipates opening next season with a higher payroll than they ran to end the 2023 campaign.

Of course, that’s not exactly portending massive spending. The A’s ended last year with a payroll in the $59MM range, as calculated by Roster Resource. That was the lowest mark in MLB. Forst estimated their current commitments for next season sit around $43MM, a little north of the $40MM which Roster Resource projects.

That leaves some amount of flexibility to dip into free agency, although they’d surely be for players in the lower tiers. Last offseason’s acquisitions of Aledmys Díaz, Jace Peterson, Trevor May, Drew Rucinski, Jesús Aguilar and Shintaro Fujinami were all one- or two-year commitments that tallied a little over $40MM in overall spending.

Forst suggested that adding to a rotation without many clear candidates behind Blackburn and JP Sears was likely (link via Martín Gallegos of MLB.com). The GM made clear they’re looking to wait out the market for what is likely to be a low-cost veteran flier. “This time of year, the market is peaking,” Forst said. “It’s expensive, nowhere more than starting pitching, which is something we’re out there talking about. We are trying to be patient. I think we know with what we have to spend and what we need to do, patience is probably our friend here.”

One player who doesn’t seem likely to be part of the rotation competition: right-hander Mason Miller. Forst suggested the A’s were planning to move him to the bullpen, potentially as a closer, for the ’24 season (via Gallegos). One of the hardest throwers in the sport, Miller has been limited by injuries as a professional. He pitched only 39 1/3 innings over parts of three minor league seasons and was limited to 33 1/3 frames during his MLB debut this year, missing a good chunk of time with forearm tightness. A relief role will allow the A’s to keep a close watch on his workload next season, although Forst left open the possibility of stretching him back out as a starter in 2025.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Oakland Athletics Mason Miller Paul Blackburn Seth Brown

Guardians Expected To Keep 2024 Payroll At 2023 Levels
Main
NL Central Notes: Davis, India, Brewers
View Comments (20)
Post a Comment

20 Comments

  1. Buzzz Killington

    2 years ago

    But Blackburn is going to earn in the millions. The A’s are going to have a very high payroll next year.

    2
    Reply
    • deweybelongsinthehall

      2 years ago

      Blackburn pitches half his games in Oakland. Could he really be a full-time starter for a club with a smaller park? I don’t know his splits but I’d be concerned.

      1
      Reply
      • Chuck from Uniontown

        2 years ago

        Blackburn has actually been better on the road by a lot of metrics. Slugging against is .456 at home and .443 away, and OPS against is .802 at home vs .776 away.

        Reply
  2. deepfryar

    2 years ago

    Who the hell cares about anything the As do! Literally the worst team in baseball history, like the plot of Major League except the team never does the naked lady motivator and leaves town for real!

    3
    Reply
    • Fonzy13

      2 years ago

      I know the recent A’s have been real bad and are unwilling to spend, but we are talking about a franchise with the 3rd most 100 win seasons and 9 world series victories so worst team in baseball history may be bit of a stretch. Not an A’s fan just don’t want people to forget about the history of the game.

      7
      Reply
      • deepfryar

        2 years ago

        i’m not talking about wins and losses, i’m talking about how they treat their fans!

        Reply
      • ruff kuntry

        2 years ago

        Even though I’m not from the Bay Area but still an A’s fan, it’s sad they’re leaving Oakland having won 4 World Series there and have been to the World Series 6 times with greats like Rickey, Jackson, Catfish, Fingers, Eck, McGwire, Dave Stewart, etc.

        Hopefully Fischer sells the team and a much richer person actually invest money in top players.

        1
        Reply
    • The Big Yo

      2 years ago

      San Diego? the money you guys have been handed must be nice. How are those play offs treating all that money?

      Reply
  3. i like al conin

    2 years ago

    They had all that talent and traded them for mostly nothing. Just once I want this front office to get my approval before making a deal.

    4
    Reply
  4. CityofChampions

    2 years ago

    I don’t believe any ML teams have interest in Seth Brown. Oakland is about the only place that the guy would field big league Abs.

    2
    Reply
  5. LordD99

    2 years ago

    FLASH: Paul Blackburn and outfielder Seth Brown traded by A’s in package deal.

    2
    Reply
    • deweybelongsinthehall

      2 years ago

      For a Domino’s pizza (with that free coupon they’ve been offering).

      Reply
      • its_happening

        2 years ago

        Cheesy bread must be in the deal.

        Reply
  6. ruff kuntry

    2 years ago

    Making Miller the closer is the right call.

    2
    Reply
  7. BigGarg

    2 years ago

    Considering how bad the A’s do in trades involving actual very good players, they might as well hang on to a couple guys and try to field a semi-competitive team for once.

    1
    Reply
  8. Don T

    2 years ago

    A’s need pitching help? Shocking! They couldn’t possibly be any worse in 2024 but don’t expect less than 100 losses again. This team has an amazing history of success on the field but the last two years have been brutal. Don’t see them regaining their former glory any time soon. The city of Oakland has to take some of the blame for their inability to build a MLB quality stadium after years of trying. Absolutely no sense of urgency cost them their team.

    1
    Reply
  9. Not a clever name

    2 years ago

    Yep they are going all in to get Ohtani, Ryuta that is

    Reply
  10. Gumby82

    2 years ago

    Dumb A’s!!Trade everyone and forfeit the season! F&ck John Fisher to helllllll!!!!!

    Reply
  11. Gumby82

    2 years ago

    John fisher makes me violently ill and I hope he doesn’t wake up tomorrow

    Reply
  12. Gumby82

    2 years ago

    They both stink and whoever wants them should be relocated to Las Vegas

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Recent

    Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

    J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

    Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

    Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

    Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

    Mets’ Dedniel Nunez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Seattle Mariners

    Reds Activate Jake Fraley, Option Christian Encarnacion-Strand

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Cubs Select Brooks Kriske

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version