By Jacob Becquey

Every year, in Major League Baseball, there comes a team who defies all expectations. In 2024, it was the Tigers, going from sub-.500 to an ALDS appearance. In 2025, it was the Blue Jays, who went to the World Series after going worst-to-first in the division. So, as the offseason trudges along, a question comes to mind: which team will surprise us all next year?

Now, call us crazy, but is there a chance the Athletics could take the leap? Before you comment and call us crazy, here is out:

The Offense is Crazy Talented

Nick Kurtz. Jacob Wilson. Tyler Soderstrom. The Athletics may not have a city, but they have insane talent on offense. We even saw this last year, as the team finished 7th in homers, 5th in average, 12th in runs, and 8th in OPS. The team has holes, but offense is not one of them.

Additionally, the bats are very young, with a lot of players still under control. With veteran leadership from Brent Rooker and some potential free agents, there’s no telling how much more successful the A’s will be next year.

Prospects on the Rise

Every team needs young players to fill in gaps, and the A’s have a number of prospects worth the hype. 3 Athletics prospects land in the Top 100: #3 SS Leo De Vries, #38 LHP Jamie Arnold, and #60 Gage Jump. While these names likely won’t appear until 2027, a lot of top A’s prospects are projected to joint The Show next year.

Of these names, #5 OF Henry Bolte jumps out, posting great numbers at AAA last season. In 34 games with the Aviators, Bolte hit .300/.404/.433 with 2 homers, projecting as a great contact bat for a team already hitting for high average. Along with Bolte, the A’s have #4 RHP Braden Nett, #8 RHP Henry Baez, and #9 RHP Mason Barnett coming from the pipeline, giving a nice amount of depth to an already young core.

A Potential Move Incoming?

Last year, the A’s shocked the Baseball world. No, they didn’t outdo themselves in the standings, but they went out and spent money on Luis Severino and extended Brent Rooker. With such moves setting a precedent, it comes to thought that they may spend a little more money this year.

So who would they spend it on? Well, the biggest problem with this team is the pitching; the A’s ranked 26th in Earned Runs and 20th in Strikeouts last season. While they don’t have the owners to acquire someone like Framber Valdez, they can afford to spend on a similar deal to Severino. With this in place, the A’s could be key players for Zac Gallen, who is projected to ink a 3-4 year, ~$75 million dollar contract. If the A’s can just find themselves power to spend a little money, they could shock everyone in 2026.

How will the Athletics perform in 2026? Let us know what you think on X, @Full_Count_Blog