The Oakland A's are in a weird spot.
You’ve got a team playing in a minor league park in Sacramento, a roster suddenly loaded with young stars like Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, and a front office that—for the first time in years—actually looks like it wants to win. But the stove isn’t just hot; it's confusing. While the A's have already grabbed Jeff McNeil from the Mets and locked up Tyler Soderstrom to a massive $86 million extension, the chatter about what comes next is getting loud.
Especially when it comes to the mound.
Everyone knows the deal. If you watched this team last year, you saw the bats wake up. They ranked sixth in the AL in runs. But the pitching? It's a different story. Right now, the Oakland A's trade rumors are swirling around one specific need: a veteran starter who can eat innings without giving up six runs by the third.
The Nick Pivetta Rumor: Doing the Padres a Favor?
One of the most persistent names popping up lately is Nick Pivetta. Currently with the San Diego Padres, Pivetta is sitting on a contract that pays him $20.5 million in 2026. San Diego is feeling the squeeze. They want to move money, and the A's are one of the few teams with the cap space and the desperation for a mid-rotation stabilizer to make it work.
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Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic have signaled that the Padres are looking to shed that salary. For the A's, this isn't just about a trade; it's about a statement. If David Forst pulls the trigger on Pivetta, he’s essentially telling the league that the "cheap A's" era is on a temporary hiatus while they gear up for Las Vegas in 2028.
But it’s not just a salary dump. Pivetta is a strikeout-heavy righty who could offer a massive upgrade over the projected back end of the rotation. The internal math is grim right now. Beyond Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, the depth chart is a sea of question marks like J.T. Ginn and Jacob Lopez. Taking on Pivetta’s $20 million might cost the A's a couple of mid-tier prospects, but it saves them from having to overpay a free agent like Ranger Suárez or Chris Bassitt who might not want to pitch in a Triple-A stadium.
What's the Word on the Third Base Battle?
Honestly, the hot corner is a mess. The A's have been public about "relying on internal options" like Brett Harris and Max Muncy, but nobody really buys it. Not when Eugenio Suárez is still sitting out there in the cold.
Suárez coming off a 49-homer season is a monster. Rumors suggest the A's are "kinda" kicking the tires there, but it would require moving a young infielder. If they trade for a veteran third baseman, expect someone like Darell Hernaiz to be the centerpiece of a deal going the other way. The A's have a surplus of middle infielders, and with Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz locked in, some of these "former top prospects" are becoming expendable trade bait.
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The Mason Miller Aftershock
We have to talk about Mason Miller. Last summer’s trade that sent the All-Star closer to San Diego for Leo De Vries was the "big one." It fundamentally changed how the front office is viewed. They aren't just selling for pennies anymore; they're trading for elite, top-of-the-scale talent.
Because that trade worked out so well—De Vries looks like a future superstar—don't be surprised if the A's get aggressive again. There is some talk that the A's might dangle some of their outfield depth. With Denzel Clarke, Lawrence Butler, and Tyler Soderstrom all needing reps, JJ Bleday was already the first casualty (non-tendered). If another team needs a left-handed bat with control, the A's have the pieces to facilitate a deal for—you guessed it—more pitching.
Why the 2026 Season is Different
The vibe around these Oakland A's trade rumors feels different because for once, they aren't looking to teardown.
- The Soderstrom Extension: $86 million isn't a "small market" move.
- The McNeil Trade: Taking on a veteran contract from the Mets shows a desire for floor-raising stability.
- The Rotation Gap: Every analyst from FanGraphs to local beat writers knows the current rotation won't survive the summer.
There's a real chance the A's target Edward Cabrera from the Marlins. He’s 27, has three years of control, and has the "stuff" the A's coaching staff loves to tweak. The Marlins always want hitting, and the A's have it in spades in the high minors. It’s a match that makes too much sense to ignore as we head toward Spring Training.
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The Reality of the "Sacramento Factor"
We have to be honest: the stadium situation makes trades more likely than free-agent signings. Pitchers are wary of Sutter Health Park. It’s a hitters' paradise in the summer heat. This is why the A's are more likely to trade for a guy like Nick Pivetta or trade prospects for a controllable arm. They have to "force" the talent to Sacramento because they can't always convince it to sign there voluntarily.
The front office is walking a tightrope. They want to be competitive enough to keep the Vegas hype alive, but they can't burn the farm system before they actually arrive in Nevada.
Actionable Insights for A's Fans
If you're trying to track where this goes, keep an eye on these specific triggers:
- Watch the Padres' Financials: If San Diego signs a big-name free agent, they must move Pivetta. The A's are the leading candidate to catch that fall.
- The Third Base Deadline: If the A's don't sign or trade for a veteran 3B by the time pitchers and catchers report, expect a massive trade for a "pre-arbitration" arm using their excess infielders.
- Rotation Health: If Luis Severino shows any signs of his old injury bugs in early camp, David Forst will be forced to overpay on the trade market immediately.
The A's are no longer the "silent" team of the winter. They are active, they have money to burn for the first time in a decade, and they have a massive hole in the rotation that needs a trade to fix it. Keep your notifications on; this isn't your older brother's Oakland rebuild.
To stay ahead of these moves, monitor the transaction wire for "minor league depth" signings, as these often precede a larger 2-for-1 trade where the A's consolidate their roster spots for a frontline starter.