Brent Rooker has been one of the best hitters in the league over the past two seasons. He hit 30 home runs in an All-Star campaign a year ago. He has been even better this year despite being left out of the Midsummer Classic, clubbing 25 homers with a .288/.365/.583 slash across 378 plate appearances.
If he’s available, Rooker would be arguably the best offensive player on the market. It’s not clear that another team will be able to pry him from Oakland. Jeff Passan of ESPN wrote yesterday that the A’s were leaning towards holding their breakout slugger. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman hears similarly, tweeting this morning that the A’s are informing other teams they’re reluctant to part with Rooker or center fielder JJ Bleday.
As MLBTR explored in more detail in a post for Front Office subscribers this week, whether to trade Rooker is the biggest decision the A’s are facing. There’s a case for moving him. The A’s are at least another season away from postseason contention. This summer’s market looks like it’ll be light on impact bats. Rooker didn’t break through as a regular until after his 28th birthday. He turns 30 in November and is probably amidst the best season of his career.
At the same time, the A’s aren’t facing contractual pressure to make a deal. Rooker is playing for marginally more than the league minimum salary. He’ll qualify for arbitration next offseason and is under team control through 2027. His power-oriented skillset is the kind that pays well over time in arbitration, but his first-year salary will be eminently affordable. The A’s don’t have a single guaranteed contract on their 2025 payroll ledger. Even with ownership imposing huge limitations, they’ll be able to accommodate a salary in the $4-6MM range for Rooker without issue.
Bleday, 26, always seemed like more of a long shot trade candidate. Oakland acquired the lefty-hitting outfielder from the Marlins going into 2023 in a one-for-one swap for A.J. Puk. That deal looked skewed in Miami’s favor during the first season but has been more balanced this year. Bleday, a former sixth overall pick out of Vanderbilt, has stepped up as the A’s primary center fielder. He’s hitting .233/.314/.430 with 12 homers across 422 plate appearances.
The A’s control Bleday for four seasons beyond this one. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2026 campaign. He now looks like a potential regular (or at least a strong side platoon bat) whom the A’s have no urgency to move.
Oakland general manager David Forst said earlier this week that the team wasn’t looking to deal all their players of note. “We may do some things, but anyone who expects we’re going to continue to just move guys for prospects will probably be disappointed because there’s guys here we think are part of the team beyond this year,” Forst told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com on Monday (X link). Fost didn’t specify names but was surely referring to players like Rooker, Bleday and closer Mason Miller — who went on the injured list this week and is very unlikely to move. While those comments could include some amount of gamesmanship — it wouldn’t serve the front office well to exaggerate their urgency to subtract — it seems they’re projecting a similar message in conversations with teams.
If the A’s hold Rooker and Bleday, they’d likely be in for a quiet deadline. Setup man Lucas Erceg should draw interest. They could move rental lefty relievers Scott Alexander and T.J. McFarland for minimal returns. Miguel Andujar is hitting reasonably well and may be on the radar for teams looking for a right-handed bench bat, while back-end starters Ross Stripling and Paul Blackburn just returned from the injured list and could get a few calls.
They’ll need him to compete with the Astros down the stretch
Maybe not this year but they aren’t far off.
Tru
Aren’t far off? Really? Easily accommadate a 4-6 million dollar salary? You want Fisher to have a stroke? He’ll’ suffer paralysis before he signs that check. C’mon
Far off from what exactly, lol?
From Vegas it seems.
Actually that seems farther than ever. They’re probably closer to Oakland at this point.
It’s weird when the A’s actually pretend to be a real team. They should move both guys if they can get a haul. No way the franchise competes for a few years.
Problem is the Oakland front office really misses on the prospect returns they get. Nothing really panned out for them with the Sean Murphy or Matt Olson big trades. In fact Oakland really messed up by not wanting William Contreras in the Murphy trade. So a big haul to them may not be a big haul to most normal teams
That’s not completely accurate. Bleday has had stretches like live up to the draft position. And Langeliers is quietly, because it’s Oakland, having a nice season. Those two trade returns have been great. Neither Puk or Murphy have been all that this year.
How is Bleday leading the league in doubles with that low of a BA?
Their bad manager tried to hit him leadoff which he completely struggled now back to lower order spot hes doing well again
I disagree. I see them competitive next year. They have a lot of good young players that are getting better.
So are Texas, Seattle, and Houston. Steep climb for the A’s.
Some offensive pieces look nice and several power relievers. But starting pitching is limited and has disappointed. Maybe if the own invested in rotation pieces and no not spending revenue sharing money on wood and stripling…nice way to spend $16 million dollars
A’s fans thought the same thing about the L’Astros when they decided to be a real team. Of course it took them multiple years of tanking to figure it out.
Astros were able to tank without this lottery draft system. A’s would’ve had #2 pick in 2023, #1 pick in 2024 and #4 pick in 2025 based on current standings. Instead with lottery ended up #6 and #4. In 2025 they cant pick higher than 10th due to their revenue sharing and draft lottery ineligible.
I think they could compete but would be better served setting up to compete when they are in Vegas. By the time they get there Rooker will be gone vs the prospects from trading him right now would just be getting started.
He might not be gone. Who says they stay cheap moving to Vegas.
He’ll be old. Vegas timeline is 5 years at least. Do you still see a age 34/35 rooker still around. Also I don’t have much confidence in the A’s front office making a good trade even though their recent drafts habe been better. And the pickup of rooker and bleday trade have worked out better than the olson, Murphy, and chapman disaster trades
They are suppose to open ‘28 in Vagas that should be just enough time to get get setup to in that year. They are going to have to invest that first year and come out of the gate swinging to get the Vegas attention. They don’t want to be the Aces, who no one really wants their comp tickets.
Timeline is 3 years and not 5. I hope Rooker doesn’t drop off I. Three years.
The timeline is undefined. I think the most recent announcement was they’ve decided what corner of the future vacant lot they plan to build the stadium they have no idea how to finance.
Why would they care about getting the “Vegas attention” after they just spent 20 years destroying the franchise? The owner is an SF guy with no connection to Las Vegas. He could care less about the team or the fans as long as the revenue sharing check clears.
In other words…overwhelm me with an offer and maybe
I think in Rooker’s case, absolutely, this is just GM speak to try to raise the offers. Given his age, it’d make sense to deal him. I’d understand any other club wanting to hold onto a guy or two like that to sell tickets, but the A’s have already alienated a lot of their fanbase anyway.
Yankees could use this guy. Soto and Judge need protection badly. Even with acquiring Jazz from the Marlins, he’d fill a huge hole after Judge in the lineup. Stanton isn’t the intimidating force he once was, and Yankees need a big bopper like Rooker.
Aww poor Yanks. Judge and Soto need protection huh? Jazz…Rooker. Yeah, give em whoever they want. If they can afford it, absolutely. Right?
smh MLB salary situation is a joke.
Oh and guess what? They’d probably still choke.
1 WS appearnce 1 win in the last 20 years?
I mean the Yankees DO need those guys. Their entire lineup is a black hole outside of those two.
PuttPutt,
It’s just an observation, don’t take these things so seriously.
You complain about the money and then point out that the Yankees have one WS in 20 years. So the money isn’t an advantage. Scouting and player development will always beat spending. Great point PuttPutt. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Obviously. The Yankees have had a winning record for 30 years in a row. It’s hard to win the WS. The awesome thing about baseball is that there are lots of ways to win. The Rays scout, draft, and trade well. The Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers spend big. Some teams try a mixture. Teams like the Mariners drafted pitching heavy/exclusively for like three years in a row, and can’t score any runs! Some teams are not trying anything. Before any team can cry about payroll, they have to spend the $120 million or so that they got in revenue sharing to start the year, though. I was just having fun with PuttPutt!
Careful, you just tripped over that contradiction.
With 3 and 5 years of control, why trade either? Unless the plan is to never contend.
Those other teams need to “properly” entice the A’s office…
Three years of controllable power and moving into what will likely play as AAA bandbox for at least the next three years says there’s no reason to move him yet
I was really hoping he would end up a red
Yet, somehow….
The A’s will not trade Rooker while he’s healthy and performing well. They much prefer to wait(too long) till a coveted player is injured or his performance drops off, so they can move him later for pennies on the dollar.
Could be reluctant to trade Rooker. Or could be driving up the price of prospects for him…
The Pirates need to just put a big offer up here.
Yes young pitching plus good AAA shortstop .
Doesn’t sound like they want to trade him. Awful move to overpay. Just move on the next guy.
But who is the next guy?
Cherington calls everyone. Whoever isn’t in high demand and falls in his lap. He says he wants players that help beyond this year. 1 those players don’t always get traded even more so position players even more so ones with 3 or more years of control. Rooker doesn’t sound like he is going anywhere. Bleday even less so. Doesn’t sound like Ward is going anywhere but Arte can change his mind on a dime. Roberts too expensive prospects and salary wise. That leaves Cruz and Thomas. Rizzo is pretty sharp but Miami can be had as seen by Puk trade.
Should love to get rental. They are in a tuff spot to go all in with rental but hope for the right deal. Winker Pillar make so much sense and help Pittsburgh more than anyone else. Canha great insurance and depth. Pham next level down.
If they get swept by Arizona he might not be too motivated. Not that motivated now. But should be. Playoff odds are just good enough that you should do minor trades.
To me, Rooker and Bleday fit in well with the Pirates core. In fact, to a tee. And it fits for both now and the future
I’m contradicting myself here, but these are two guys Cherington should be pushing for
Should. Probably did. A’s don’t want to move him so time for Ben to move on. No team needs them more than Pittsburgh. Rooker is only a outfielder for a handful of teams. Oakland is hard to trade with. Their player evaluations are all over the place.
If the Pirates have identified who is in their plans for the next 3 years, no matter the position, they should make offers the A’s can’t refuse
As you’ve said repeatedly, the rebuild is over. These two guys represent the pieces of the foundation that didn’t quite come through
But as Pirates fans, why hold out hope?
Sorry but awful way to run a baseball trade. Prospects are as valuable to the Pirates as any team. They can’t afford to make offers you can’t refuse. Rooker will be available again and will have much much less value. DD tried to get Hayes in 2022 and 2023. Last year he started in the all star game. Imagine the price. This year he got him for basically free.
I dunno, Dream. Rooker and Bleday aren’t very far removed from being prospects themselves. Ok, then wait until the off season. But both are young and under control Sure seems like a fit
Pirates down 4–1 already. Hmmmm
Dream, prospects are valuable sure but only for so long. Several years ago guys like Davis, Peguero, and even Mguys like Malone were ranked in some or all of the top 100s or very close.
Prospects are fleeting. Capitalize now on the major league product you have on the field. Pirates went from bottom 3rd to top 3rd in Cheringtons time for farm system.
Prospects are fickle. 1 playoff game in Pittsburgh with an average ticket price of 50 bucks would being in 1.9 mil before any merch or food/drink is sold.
They have to do something.
Yeah, agreed. They either can’t figure out where their kids fit and their overall depth chart or they just like the idea of stockpiling
These two guys are the answer to augmenting the rebuild. They should be blowing up the A’s phone lines….and loading up the van with prospects
But that kind of maneuvering only happens with franchises bent on winning
I want to trade prospects. But Oakland want to trade. I don’t want to offer them something so stupid to force them. That’s idiotic. If you want to buy your neighbors house worth 300 grand for your kid and he says nah I like it here are you going to pay 500 grand? If so well….
You’re going the opposite extreme here, Dream. No one is saying overpay
Instead, what’s wrong with dealing prospects who are jammed here? Seriously.
Why have 5 shortstops or 7 second basemen?
Why have 10 starting pitchers?
What’s idiotic is allowing trades to go by thanks to abject stupidity
Here’s my prediction. Someone will trade for Rooker and perhaps even Bleday and send back a lot less than what you’re thinking.
It’s a Pittsburgh thing
I doubt it but we will see.
Pirates haven’t let a single trade go by. Ben doesn’t really want rentals and if they lose today I might agree with him unless they are giving them away. The players that make the most cents are Rooker Bleday Ward Cruz Siri are all still available. More trades are going to happen moving forward than have happened so far. Really have to wait until 630 Tuesday to find out.
I think Bleday would be a nice add for any team. But I hope Oakland keeps him and Rooker. The trio of Lawrence Bulter, Bleday and Rooker will give an entertaining reason to watch Oakland games the next couple of years even though they may not win a hole lot. They should clearly be looking to build a contending team for their first year in Vegas.
Come on Pirates!! Do something! They have good chance if they add 2 hitters.
They could have got jazz in center for what the Yankees gave for him. Hopefully they do something. Not holding my breath
Jesus I hope so! Something big I hope!
It’s pretty easy, if they intend to compete next year in a new Sacramento Market you keep rooker. But the trash owner hasn’t shown any indication that they’ll invest in this roster. On the flipside rooker is 29 with 3 plus years of control. His value may never be higher. He’s a below average outfielder and likely DH only going forward. Because A’s lousy trades they still lack pitching. But they do have bodies that they could rotate in DH spot. Maybe it’s soderstrom, noda, andujar, jordan diaz. Not close to being the hitter rooker is but some talent to fill in for a non contending team
The A’s would be a different world dumb not to trade him. And honestly, they should trade miller also. Peak value
Why? They’re 7 wins away from matching last season’s win total. They’re probably closer to being able to compete than most people think…
Miller won’t be dealt because it’s simply going to be too complicated of a deal. He’s young, controllable for years, as well as the A’s biggest asset- meaning they’ll (rightfully) want an astornomical return. You flip it, most clubs will (rightfully) balk at paying that for a closer. Relievers are just so volatile. Imagine giving up 3 top prospects and watching Miller implode. I’m not saying it’s guaranteed, but it wouldn’t be the first time in history.
Oakland could hold Miller for two years and still get a great return, anyway. The only risk would be if his numbers nosedive on them. But if you’re the A’s GM, I think you take that gamble unless someone meets the exact ask you want.
Good for Oakland and it is about time that they start keeping their cheap stars that will be around for ten years or more. Why continue to trade good players for 50 – 50 prospects that fail 99.9 of the time? Build around Rooker, Mason, etc and as Arizona showed in the 2023 world series, add to good players, stop subtracting them from the roster. That leads to ten years of 40 million payrolls and incompetence. Oakland, if they held Chapman, Olsen, Puk, would now be a powerhouse in the majors playing for a world series, instead of being the joke of the league for ten years.
I would think this a L for the Guardians, exactly what they need and other “targets” are being taken. Of course they’ll tout Boyd as their “trade acquisition.”
I think it would be foolish to trade either anyways. Both could be core members of the team for years.
Guardians are fading fast. Even if he were available they would be sitting on the sidelines and not make a trade
Rooker’s stick is legit but these comments are posturing in a way. No matter what, he is a DH and nothing else. If he could play OF or 1B, the suitors would be lining up for him.
The market for Rooker will likely be bigger in the winter so a better return may be able to be secured.
The Yankees should turn down every opportunity to trade with the A’s….they get stiffed each and every time they trade with Billy Beane and lets not joke about how he’s involved in every trade regardless of not being GM……Cashman should have and hopefully will learn his lesson….trading for Montas, a pitcher admittedly who was hurt while and after the trade and Cash doesn’t appeal the trade to the league for compensation……shame on the Yankees medical staff but don’t get it…Beane walks away with 2 starting pitchers and a second baseman regardless of their success and Montas ends up on the IL less than 30 days after the trade……then he walks……stupid….don’t trade with the A’s…..
Why does Norm Cashman still have a job? $309,000,000 payroll and they still can’t win a World Series. Gone are the days when the Kansas City Athletics used to be the New York Yankees “farm team”. Funny how the worm has turned, dontchathink? About time.
I don’t understand why the A’s would NOT TRADE ROOKER. He’s 28. He’s having a career year. He can get u a first & 5th best prospect in a trade. The A’s will not sniff a playoff shot till 2028, when rooker will be a free agent. It makes zero sense to not trade for maximum return
John Fisher is a notorious miser. His friends call him “T-Rex” due to his inability to reach for a check at dinner. Personally, I can’t wait for the A’s to move into their multi-billion dollar stadium in Vegas only to treat the Las Vegas “fans” to what Oakland fans already know, the A’s are a minor league team. Does anyone really believe Fisher will invest in players like a real MLB owner or just fleece the poor citizens of Las Vegas and line his own pockets? It will be fun to watch them whine and squirm when he fields his team with a payroll of $67 million. By comparison the Yankees payroll is $309 million, the Dodgers, $238 million, the Giants, $206 million. And here he is crapping his pants with the thought that Brent Rooker, his best player, might win $6 million in an arbitration hearing because no way would he voluntarily pay him that much. Embarrassing.