Report: A's put several star players on trade block to slash payroll
The Oakland Athletics appear primed for a fire sale.
All-Star first baseman Matt Olson is likely one of several players who'll be traded this offseason with the Athletics rebuilding, multiple league executives told Andy Martino of SNY.
Oakland is also willing to listen to offers for starting pitchers Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, and Sean Manaea, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
The New York Yankees are interested in acquiring Olson, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
The Athletics are planning to lower their payroll to a major-league low $50 million for next season, sources told Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Oakland started the 2021 campaign with a 40-man roster worth over $100 million.
Olson hit 39 home runs with 111 RBIs and a .911 OPS in 156 games last season. The 27-year-old is also a two-time Gold Glove winner and is projected to make around $12 million through arbitration in 2022. He isn't eligible to test free agency until 2024.
Meanwhile, Bassitt accrued a 3.15 ERA en route to becoming an All-Star for the first time in 2021, Manaea punched out a career-high 194 batters over 32 starts, and Montas reached the 200-strikeout plateau with a 3.37 FIP.
Oakland already lost longtime skipper Bob Melvin, who left the club in late October to sign a multi-year deal to manage the San Diego Padres.
"Everybody clearly drew that line from the time Bob left," Athletics general manager David Forst said about the team's payroll, per Nightengale. "I think, right now, we're in the middle of those conversations with (owner) John (Fisher). We don't have an exact direction yet.
"But you look at our history, and we have three- or four-year runs, and (recognizing) where we are makes it necessary to step back."
The Athletics' three-year playoff streak ended in 2021.