Mark Kotsay: Athletics Are “Right There”
ORLANDO, Fla. (Dec. 9) — Athletics manager Mark Kotsay sat with members of the media for his Winter Meetings press conference Tuesday afternoon. He addressed the strengths and needs of the team and feels they are right on the cusp in the AL West.
Main Need: Pitching Improvements
Though the team made improvements in pitching stats over the last four months, Kotsay feels that is largely due to the team’s improvements on defense. “It helped with the confidence that the guys had in being able to execute pitches in the zone, be confident we were going to get outs, and be able to defend,” Kotsay said.
Kotsay added that due to depth a team needs to survive an entire season, “If we can add starting pitching, it’s only going to help.”
Naturally, adding impact starting pitchers through free agency would be great. Kotsay even said, “By all measures, if we can add some pitching, I would welcome it with open arms.” But he also feels that the “young, talented pitchers” in the organization such as Luis Morales, Gage Jump, Jamie Arnold, Steven Echavarria, Kade Morris, Braden Nett, and Henry Baez are in the same position to break out as the current core of position players was a season or two ago.
“There’s a group there that,” Kotsay said before resetting, “The development of that group is going to help us and maybe catapult us on the pitching side.”
Position Player Core Will Be Around for a While
“It’s great to know that the core group of position guys can possibly be together for an extended period of time,” Kotsay said, “led by a Rookie of the Year and another rookie to finish second in voting.”
He was referring to Nick Kurtz — the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year and the Silver Slugger for AL first basemen — and All-Star Jacob Wilson, who became the first American League rookie shortstop ever voted by the fans to be the starter.
Kurtz and Wilson are two members of that “really exciting” core group Kotsay referred to. The others are left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, catcher Shea Langeliers, designated hitter Brent Rooker, and outfielder Lawrence Butler.
Contract Extensions?
Last season, the Athletics rewarded Rooker and Butler with contract extensions. Rooker received five years/$60 million with a vesting option for a sixth year. Butler netted seven years/$65.5 million with a club option for an eighth year. When asked about talks to keep the group together by extending other players from that core, Kotsay gave a deep answer.
“There’s a big effort there to keep this group together. There really is. And I know ownership is making that effort, which as you talk about, is a change, right? If we look at the group prior to this, that you could identify as a group that you would have wanted to move forward with, a group that came together in ’17 and ’18 and ’19. The resources weren’t there to afford to keep that group together. I think there’s a vision and a future here going forward with this group that we were able to at least get those opportunities out in front of these players.
“But at the same point, it takes two to come to the table and reach that agreement and make that commitment. And that’s going to be ultimately, at the end of the day, the challenge. These players have had really successful starts to their career, and not that that hurts us, because it really helps us. But at the same point, at times it can be difficult for a player — I’ve sat in those shoes — to make that commitment prior to really hitting a pinnacle in your career and taking advantage of that opportunity monetarily.
“But we’re hopeful that we can get it done. And I think we’ve got two guys that have made that commitment that are really supportive and that will really push to get their teammates on board.”
Clarke in Center
A mid-season call-up who made an immediate impact was center fielder and defensive whiz Denzel Clarke. Unfortunately, an adductor strain sidelined him for the rest of the season in July. Kotsay said the injury prevented him from playing in “a sufficient amount of games to evaluate his future.”
Kotsay continued, “I think this coming season he’s got to come to spring training healthy and prepared to be that impact player in the middle of the diamond.”
Pushing the Needle Forward with Kurtz, Wilson
After players have strong or exceptional rookie seasons, if they don’t produce as much in their second year, they can be — fairly or unfairly — tagged with the moniker of “sophomore slump.” Kurtz had a season from another planet. Wilson had a season great enough to be Rookie of the Year in most years but finished second due to Kurtz’s performance. Even if the two of them have excellent second seasons, if they don’t produce at the same level, they might be dinged with that tag.
Kotsay feels that Kurtz and Wilson both handled their high expectations well. He also feels the other players do “a good job with insulating each individual on the roster,” specifically commending Brent Rooker.
However, they will have to make adjustments. Kotsay said, “The league is going to make adjustments. And I’m confident that they’re both athletic enough and diligent enough to recognize those weaknesses, make those adjustments, and continue on a trajectory of success.”
Offseason Pursuits
Kotsay said of the Athletics’ 2025 season, “The last three, four months of the season, outside of that 20-game stretch we went through, we had a legitimate opportunity to make our season really successful. And it was just unfortunate that the adversity that we took on in May really impacted the total number of wins we were able to achieve.”
Adding starting pitchers and back-end relief should help the Athletics either get over the hump or come close. Some current players are texting Kotsay regarding moves or targets. “Rook texts me quite a bit,” Kotsay said with a smile. “(Rooker) throws some names at me even. And that’s welcomed. I always tell our guys, hey, you pick up a phone, you text me any thoughts you’ve got. During the offseason, I’m here for you. I’m here to help, I’m here to talk about it.”
The players want to add and make the team better. Kotsay pointed out the need for an everyday second baseman and third baseman. Although the current players respect Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, Brett Harris, and Zack Gelof, those players are still developing. The more established players are “aware that if we have ability to go out and identify a player that has a track record that can come in and impact either of those two spots on the field, that they’re all for it.”
Looking Ahead
But the Athletics are in a transitory phase, given their temporary home. “It’s difficult,” Kotsay said. “We’re still in a situation where we’re in Sacramento for two more years. We’re still in that trending-up phase. Had we not gone through a season where we had some adversity in May and finished better, maybe there’s a perception that we were really ready to go.”
He was referring to the 1–20 stretch from May 14 to June 4. Over the rest of the season, the Athletics went 75–66 and finished the year 76–86.
Kotsay concluded, “But I do think that we’re right there and we have an opportunity in this division to be competitive all the way through September and win.”
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