Shane Mack, a 1984 U.S. Olympic baseball silver‑medalist and two‑time UCLA All‑American, became one of the era’s most successful Rule 5 Draft picks. Drafted 11th overall by the San Diego Padres in 1984, he debuted in May 1987 after a strong minor‑league run and filled in for an injured Steve Garvey. Over nine MLB seasons Mack posted a .299 career average, won a World Series, and played for the Padres, Twins, Red Sox, Athletics and Royals. The #CardCorner post highlights his standout high‑school record of 16 straight hits, his decision to attend UCLA over a $42,000 bonus, and his enduring legacy as a versatile outfielder.
Lefty Grove caps a historic 31‑win, 2.06 ERA season with the inaugural BBWAA American League MVP award on Oct. 28, 2026. The Philadelphia Athletics ace outduels Lou Gehrig, leading the league in wins, strikeouts (175), complete games (27), shutouts (4) and WHIP (1.077) while posting a 16‑game winning streak. His 10.4 WAR remains one of only 22 Live‑Ball Era seasons at that level. Grove’s dominance helped the A’s secure a third straight AL pennant, though they fall to the Cardinals in the World Series. The Hall of Fame notes his career totals of 300‑141, 3.06 ERA and two pitching Triple Crowns.
The Oakland Athletics report that infielder Max Muncy has undergone a knee debridement and a platelet‑rich plasma injection to treat cartilage damage in his left knee. Despite ending the season on the injured list, the minor procedure is expected to clear him for spring training. Muncy, a 2021 first‑round pick, entered 2026 with a .214/.259/.379 rookie line and a modest .230/.296/.387 sophomore slash, striking out 32% of the time. With only one minor‑league option left and a new president of baseball operations, Taylor Smith, he must prove himself as a utility player to secure a roster spot.
The 2020 World Series opens with back‑to‑back one‑run games for the first time since 2010, as the Tampa Bay Rays take a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 1 saw Texas edge St. Louis 3‑2, and the Cardinals returned the favor 2‑1 in Game 2. The last series with consecutive one‑run openings was in 2000, when the Yankees swept the Mets. Only four champions have ever won all four games by a single run—Boston (1915, 1918), the 1972 A’s, and the 1992 Blue Jays. Tonight’s matchup, a must‑win for the Rays, kicks off at 5 p.m. on FOX.
Left‑handed reliever Robby Ahlstrom made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers in 2026 after years of prospect hype and command struggles in the minors. Acquired from the Yankees in a 2022 trade, he refined his control at Round Rock, walking just 8 of 116 batters early in the season. Called up on June 1, Ahlstrom retired all four Cardinals hitters in his first appearance and held a 0.00 ERA through his first nine outings, but his performance later wavered, spiking to a 7.07 ERA after a rough June‑July stretch and again after the All‑Star break, including a September 2 outing against the Athletics where he surrendered three runs and two homers. The piece reviews his volatile season and the Rangers’ bullpen context.
The Milwaukee Brewers lead the 2026 World Series 2-0 and aim to clinch tonight's Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Veteran right‑hander Freddy Peralta starts for Tampa Bay, while rookie lefty Robert Gasser makes his third postseason start for Milwaukee. A win would give the Brewers their first championship, and runs are expected to be scarce. The article also notes the Oakland A’s hiring Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations and hints at possible offseason lockout concerns.
The Red Sox’s July 2026 trade deadline pivot—sending promising left‑hander Connelly Early to Washington for hot‑hitting Australian infielder Curtis Mead—looked like a bold win‑or‑lose move. Mead was riding a breakout spell with the Nationals (17 HR, .852 OPS) when he debuted for Boston against the A's, only to be hit in the wrist by a 95‑mph fastball from Jack Perkins, forcing him to leave the game. The article reviews how this acquisition, meant to fuel a historic 15‑game win streak and a deep playoff push, was instantly derailed by injury, echoing past Red Sox deadline misfires.
The Golden State Warriors paid tribute to legendary Bay Area sports reporter Michael Wagaman during their home opener on October 24, 2026, placing a jersey, photo, flowers and a placard in press row. Wagaman, who covered Bay Area teams since 1996 for the AP and NBC Sports, died on Aug. 7 at age 59. Earlier tributes came from the Athletics, Giants, 49ers and coach Steve Kerr, who praised his humor and energy. The Warriors' gesture follows a series of honors across local sports, highlighting Wagaman’s lasting impact on the Bay Area media community.
MLB Trade Rumors reports that any team acquiring Bryce Harper will likely have to offer a contract extension. Ken Rosenthal notes the Yankees, Red Sox or Athletics could be fits, but Harper’s full no‑trade clause means he must approve a deal and would only waive it for a deal that extends his current 13‑year, $330 million contract (which runs through 2031 and leaves $118 million remaining). At 34, Harper posted a .269/.380/.485 line with 29 homers, 87 RBI and 107 walks in 162 games. The Phillies, coming off an 88‑74 season and a Wild Card loss, are weighing a move for Harper or Schwarber.
The article examines the dilemma facing new Athletics President of Baseball Operations Taylor Smith: should he prioritize high‑profile roster moves that offer immediate optics, like signing a pitcher such as Drew Rasmussen, or focus on behind‑the‑scenes infrastructure—analytics tools, scout hires, and player‑development upgrades—to close the A’s data gap? While early visible moves could win fan approval, Smith’s long‑term success may hinge on reshaping talent identification and boosting existing prospects like Luis Morales and Luis Medina. With the transaction window opening after the World Series, the piece predicts most of Smith’s impactful work will unfold quietly in November, setting the stage for a competitive 2027 roster.
The Bay Area sports media landscape is celebrating the memory of someone who gave life to the fanbase. The Warriors, Giants, and A’s community was left with a big void after the passing of veteran sportswriter Michael “Wags” Wagaman. To keep his memory alive, the Golden State Warriors placed a touching monument at Chase Center […]
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The MLBPA quietly withdrew its December 2025 grievance against the Tampa Bay Rays for allegedly misusing revenue‑sharing funds. The 2018 complaint also targeted the Marlins, Pirates and Athletics, but the status of those cases remains unclear. The move comes months after the Rays' sale to Patrick Zalupski and approval of a new stadium slated for 2029, which Zalupski says could lift Tampa Bay’s payroll into the league’s upper half. Despite a modest $98.4 M luxury‑tax‑eligible payroll (27th overall), the Rays posted a 98‑win season and are now opening the World Series against the Brewers, sparking debate over MLB’s competitive balance as the current CBA approaches its December 1 expiry and an imminent lockout.
In the October 22 episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast, host Darragh McDonald and analyst Anthony Franco break down the postseason and upcoming offseason. Highlights include the Brewers and Rays clinching World Series spots, the Dodgers falling short of a three‑peat, and the Guardians shifting to offseason mode. The duo also discuss the defensive, low‑payroll nature of three LCS teams and its impact on CBA talks, announce the Athletics' new president of baseball operations, Taylor Smith, and compare managerial moves by the Phillies and Astros. Listener questions cover Otto Lopez’s trade potential and whether teams will wait for a new CBA before signing big contracts.
The Oakland Athletics have appointed former MLB executive Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations and are now weighing a new general manager to serve as his second‑in‑command, a structure that mirrors the Beane‑Forst era. Owner John Fisher announced the possibility at Smith’s October 22 press conference. Despite front‑office changes, manager Mark Kotsay remains under contract through 2028 with a 2029 option, and Smith praises their partnership. The move signals a strategic shift as the A’s aim to reverse five consecutive losing seasons.
On Oct. 21, 1973, Reggie Jackson earns World Series MVP as the Oakland Athletics defeat the New York Mets 5-2 in Game 7, clinching their second straight title. Jackson hits a two‑run homer off Jon Matlack, adds six RBI and posts a .310 series line, while also making key defensive plays. Amid threats from an FBI‑investigated letter and controversy surrounding the A’s, Jackson powers the comeback from a 2‑3 deficit. He later wins the AL MVP, repeats as World Series MVP with the Yankees in 1977, and enters the Hall of Fame in 1993.
The midweek update highlights the 2026 World Series showdown between NL champion Milwaukee Brewers and AL champion Tampa Bay Rays, set to begin Friday in Milwaukee. It notes the Athletics' recent hire of former Rays exec Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations and outlines the A’s off‑season challenges: adding pitching, navigating a possible Dec. 1 lockout, and deciding whether to pursue free agents like Clay Holmes or trade surplus hitters such as Zack Gelof and Shea Langeliers. The piece also mentions other front‑office moves, upcoming free‑agent timing, and the A’s quest to climb from last to first in the AL West.
The Athletics hired Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations on Oct. 19, 2026, replacing David Forst after five straight losing seasons.
The Oakland Athletics have appointed 31‑year‑old former Red Sox assistant GM Taylor Smith as their new head of baseball operations, making him the youngest front‑office leader in MLB. Smith will immediately begin building his staff, likely pulling in familiar faces from Boston and Tampa Bay and deciding whether to retain long‑time A’s executive Billy Owen and manager Mark Kotsay, who is under contract through 2028. With a solid core left by outgoing GM David Forst, Smith faces key roster moves, including a potential trade of catcher Shea Langeliers and a major bullpen overhaul, while focusing on bolstering the rotation and developing prospects like Jacob Lopez and Jamie Arnold as the A’s transition to their new Las Vegas ballpark.
The Athletics name Taylor Smith President of Baseball Operations as the club shapes its baseball strategy ahead of its planned move to Las Vegas
Coming off a second straight season in Sacramento, the Athletics are poised to make their long-awaited move to Las Vegas after the 2027 campaign. GM David Forst, who served in various capacities with the A’s since 2000, was fired in August. As the Athletics prepare for what should be their final season in California’s capital […]
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The Oakland Athletics announce the hiring of former Red Sox assistant GM Taylor Smith as President of Baseball Operations. Smith, a former Rays analyst turned director of predictive marketing and Boston's analytics lieutenant, steps in after the organization rejected Sam Fuld. At just over 30, Smith brings fresh, data‑driven ideas but limited front‑office experience. He inherits a roster with strong position players but a struggling pitching staff, and must assemble his own front office before deciding on the future of manager Mark Kotsay, who is under contract through 2028. The move marks the A’s first outside hire in decades as they prepare for the upcoming offseason.
The Oakland Athletics appoint 31‑year‑old Taylor Smith as President of Baseball Operations, replacing longtime GM David Forst. Smith, who most recently served as the Red Sox assistant GM and built his reputation in analytics with the Rays, emerged as the top candidate after a broad search that included Sam Fuld, Jared Banner and other notable executives. Owner John Fisher praised Smith’s expertise in player performance and development. The A’s, coming off a 98‑loss season plagued by injuries to Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers, now look to leverage a core of young talent as they prepare to move to Las Vegas in 2028.
Could the Phillies reduce J.T. Realmuto's playing time? Are the Athletics about to tear down their roster? FanSided has you covered with more MLB rumors.
With the A’s front office in flux and a $8.7 M arbitration salary looming, catcher Shea Langeliers emerges as a prime trade candidate for Opening Day 2027. The 2026 All‑Star posted a .262/.328/.474 line with 23 homers, a 117 wRC+ and 7.9 fWAR over four seasons, outperforming peers like Adley Rutschman offensively despite below‑average framing stats. After missing seven weeks with a torn meniscus, his value may rise once he returns to regular catching duties. The Athletics retain two more control years, but their rebuilding timeline and impending move to Las Vegas could prompt a deal before his 2028 free‑agency year.
“They talk about all the other fellas on that team, but I notice the man who hurts us when it counts is that third baseman. There is a real ballplayer.” The Athletics entered the 1930s as the class of the American League, winning their second straight World Series title in ‘30 and taking the pennant […]