The Athletics and first baseman/outfielder Seth Brown have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2025 season, per a club announcement. While the team didn’t announce financial components of the deal, The Associated Press reports that Brown will make a $2.7MM salary.
Brown, 32, looked as though he was no longer in the A’s plans midseason when he was passed through waivers unclaimed. He accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A, so as not to forfeit the remainder of last year’s $2.6MM salary, but Brown caught fire in the minors and hit his way back up to the big leagues in short order.
At the time of his removal from the 40-man roster, Brown was hitting just .189/.251/.306 through 195 plate appearances. He erupted with a .403/.416/.736 slash and seven homers in 77 Triple-A plate appearances, however, and found himself back on the big league roster less than a month later. From the time he returned to the majors through season’s end, Brown hit .271/.312/.448 in a sample of 205 plate appearances that was nearly identical to his early-season struggles.
That proved enough to keep Brown in the team’s plans for at least another year, it seems. The lefty-swinging slugger figures to again split his time between first base and the outfield corners, while Brent Rooker takes the majority of plate appearances at designated hitter. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected a $3.8MM salary for Brown in free agency, though deals hammered out prior to the non-tender deadline (known as “pre-tender” deals) often come with salaries south of projections. Teams have more leverage prior to the non-tender deadline and thus will frequently present offers in what’s effectively “take it or leave it” fashion, with the “leave it” option representing a non-tender.
Brown has now had consecutive disappointing seasons at the plate, but he popped 45 homers in 261 games with the A’s from 2021-22. He’s a .225/.289/.426 hitter (102 wRC+) in 1640 plate appearances dating back to the 2021 season.
Seth is probably bound for midseason’s trade. A’s have choices in the minors…
Would’ve non tender him but also difficult to attract any sort of free agents. I could see them sticking to brown and andujar platoon in corner outfield
brown is washed
Brown is a decent big leaguer. Good mentor, plays hard, has the ability to have good stretches of hitting, multi position player and seems like a good team mate. Keep him around when he retires as well
They’ll regret it
The A’s apparently know what Brown can do for them.
He could hit 30+ homers in Sacramento
It’s still major league dimensions and it’s in the valley not altitude. The minor league parks only hold fewer fans, the ball parks are still major league size. Draker thinks they’re about to play on a little league field
Does hot dry summer air help the ball travel further at night? I don’t know. Just putting it out there. The weather is much different than Oakland.
No marine layer, hot summer nights, no ginormous foul territory. Brown hit 25 homers in Oakland in 2022 and 20 in 307 ABs in 2021. Notwithstanding park dimensions 30 homers is a distinct possibility if he gets 450-500 ABs.
Took $2.5 mill. Slightly less salary than last year. Buys some time until Colby thomas and Denzel Clarke are ready. But also takes away potential at bats from tyler soderstrom
I didn’t think they’d keep him but I guess if he turned it around a bit it’s worth it?
If Cust had a career OBP of .292 instead of .374 I would agree with you.