Athletics’ biggest mistake after 2026 MLB trade deadline

The Athletics’ biggest mistake at the 2026 MLB trade deadline was failing to use a lost season to substantially strengthen their controllable pitching depth.

General manager David Forst did not complete one disastrous trade before the Aug. 3 deadline. The larger problem involved the organization’s limited response to a season that had already collapsed.

The A’s entered the deadline day at 45-67, sitting fourth in the American League West. They also owned MLB’s worst run differential at minus-154. A club that reached June 19 at 38-38 went on to lose 29 of its next 36 games.

Pitching drove much of that collapse. In mid-July, the Athletics carried a 5.20 team ERA, the worst mark in the AL. Their starting rotation’s 5.30 ERA ranked 29th in MLB. The organization responded by replacing longtime pitching coach Scott Emerson during the All-Star break.

Those problems created a clear deadline objective. The A’s needed to protect their young position-player core while acquiring as much controllable pitching as possible.

They accomplished only the first half of that assignment.

Athletics failed to make a meaningful pitching upgrade

The A’s had no reason to consider moving Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, or Nick Kurtz. Wilson, Soderstrom, and Butler have signed long-term extensions, while Kurtz remains under club control through 2031.

Those players could remain central pieces when the franchise relocates to Las Vegas in 2028. Forst made it clear before the deadline that he would not dismantle the roster just because the Athletics had fallen out of the playoff race.

Protecting that foundation made sense. However, keeping the core intact did not require the A’s to remain largely inactive around it.

On July 18, the Athletics traded Aaron Civale and cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for minor-league right-hander Aiden Moffett. Civale had posted a 5.42 ERA across 16 appearances before the A’s designated him for assignment.

The Athletics acquired Scott Blewett from the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations on July 26. Their only deadline-day deal sent outfielder Colby Thomas to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-hander Seth Johnson.

Johnson represents a legitimate, controllable addition. The 27-year-old remains pre-arbitration eligible and cannot reach free agency until after the 2031 season. He also brings a fastball that reaches 97–98 mph and a power slider.

However, Johnson remains an unproven major-league reliever. He arrived with a 5.51 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and 14 walks across 16⅓ innings for the Philadelphia Phillies. Acquiring him did not provide the larger infusion of pitching talent that the Athletics needed.

The A’s retained Jeff McNeil and Jonah Heim, two veterans without guaranteed roles in the franchise’s long-term plans. McNeil produced a .240/.304/.329 slash line with four home runs and a 72 OPS+ through the deadline period. His contract includes a $15.75 million club option for 2027.

Heim signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves before they traded him to the Athletics in May. He is eligible to reach free agency after the season.

No public report indicated that Forst rejected a meaningful offer for either player, and their recent performances limited their trade value. Still, the deadline passed without the A’s turning either veteran into additional future assets.

Jeffrey Springs also stayed, although his circumstances were different. The left-hander went 3-11 with a 6.17 ERA and carried a $15 million club option for 2027. The A’s placed him on the injured list Aug. 4 with right hip discomfort, retroactive to Aug. 1. His performance, contract, and health complicated any potential trade.

Shea Langeliers’ injury created an even larger obstacle. The All-Star catcher underwent a medial meniscectomy after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. His season ended after he hit .263/.332/.497 with 23 home runs across 93 games.

Langeliers remains under club control through 2028, meaning the Athletics had no obligation to trade him. However, the injury removed their most productive healthy veteran from an active catching market. It also elevated Heim into the primary role behind the plate.

Those circumstances explain why the A’s could not execute a major sell-off. They do not erase the disappointing outcome.

The Athletics completed the deadline with their offensive foundation intact but did not significantly address their greatest organizational weakness. Moffett and Johnson added two controllable arms, yet neither represented the type of significant pitching prospect capable of changing the organization’s long-term outlook.

The A’s did not need to break apart their young core. They needed to build a stronger pitching infrastructure around that group.

The franchise is preparing for its 2028 arrival in Las Vegas. Every opportunity to acquire controllable pitching carries added importance within that timeline, especially for a team that has struggled to develop arms internally.

Forst preserved the players expected to lead the next competitive Athletics roster. His biggest mistake was failing to acquire enough pitching that was capable of joining them.

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