Matt Chapman (3B - SF)
3/12/26 5:48 PM -
[NBC Sports Bay Area] - Athletics GM David Forst explains team's new mindset for extending star players. The Athletics are entering the 2026 MLB season with their young core secured long-term. The team had gained the reputation of drafting and developing star players, such as Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, then allowing them to either leave for free agency or trade them away due to financial reasons. Within the last two seasons, however, it seems that the tide has changed, where the A’s have delivered a flurry of contract extensions to several of their top players. “It definitely feels different. And it should,” Forst told . “We’ve all looked forward to this for a long time, and the reality of having those press conferences that we’ve had over the last year plus is, those are good days for the organization. Those are good days for the players.” The wave began with designated hitter Brent Rooker’s five-year, $60 million contract extension in January 2025. Shortly after, a new seven-year, $65.5 million deal in March 2025. “There are other players who can look at that now and say, ‘Hey, that, ultimately, can be me at some point,’” Forst told Drellich. “I don’t doubt there was a time when a lot of our guys were counting down the days till they had an opportunity somewhere else. And that’s never good for the long-term health of the organization.” Following a year of growth for the A’s in their first season playing in West Sacramento, the organization extended two of its cornerstone players in Tyler Soderstrom, who received an , and starting shortstop Jacob Wilson, who signed a . Aside from the 31-year-old Rooker, the A’s secured their top players who are 25 years old or younger, highlighting a common theme between the long-term deals. “You’re trying to sort of focus on what we consider the prime years, and the first couple free agent years, without going too far down the road for either side,” Forst told Drellich. “Letting the player get back to free agency at some point, while there’s still money to be made, but also letting the team minimize risk of going too far into their 30’s, things like that.” There also have been reports that the A’s have made a long-term contract extension , which would add another important piece to the team’s long-term plans. “We spend less time now on how much value you get in years three, four and five, as opposed to, OK, what price do we have to pay to lock a guy up in years six, seven, eight? And then the player has to be willing to do it,” Forst clarified to Drellich. “Everybody in the game knows that there are agents out there who tell their players there’s no price that’s worth giving up for your free agency years, and I respect that. It doesn’t work for everybody, but you have to find someone who is willing to negotiate that value.” With the organization gearing toward a move to Las Vegas, it’s imperative for the A’s to build a product on the field that would draw as many fans as possible to the new ballpark. “It’s important as we get into the ballpark in Vegas, that we’re not losing guys to free agency the way we have for so long,” Forst added. The A’s certainly will have one of the best starting lineups in the majors, headlined by Rooker and their young core of Butler, Soderstrom, Wilson and Kurtz. If their overall pitching improves from last season, the A’s have the opportunity to become one of the fastest-rising teams in the entire MLB.
Source:
https://sportspyder.com/mlb/oakland-athletics/arti...
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