Over the past 18 months, the A’s have traded away most of the core players on the roster as a means of stripping down payroll. While much of that teardown was orchestrated either last offseason or at the summer deadline, it continued with the three-team deal that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta last month.
Given Oakland’s recent activity, it stands to reason virtually anyone on the roster with an MLB track record could be a viable trade candidate. Outfielder Ramón Laureano is one of the team’s more established remaining players and could be the subject of attention from other clubs. However, Dan Hayes of the Athletic reports the A’s didn’t show much interest in dealing Laureano after the Twins inquired on his availability.
It’d be a surprise if the A’s had anyone firmly off the table, perhaps aside from pre-arbitration players they hope will be building blocks of their next contender like Shea Langeliers and Esteury Ruiz. Nevertheless, there’s good reason for general manager David Forst and his front office to be reluctant to pursue a Laureano deal over the offseason. The 28-year-old outfielder is coming off the worst season of his career, putting his value at a low ebb.
Laureano had an impressive debut with Oakland late in the 2018 campaign. He backed that up the following season with 24 home runs in 123 games. His offensive numbers dipped during the shortened 2020 schedule but bounced back through the first few months of ’21. Laureano was sitting on a .246/.317/.443 line over his first 378 plate appearances. That’s not an eye-catching slash at first glance but marked offensive production 13 points above the league average as measured by wRC+ given Oakland’s pitcher-friendly home park.
His 2021 season was brought to an abrupt end in August after he tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Nandrolone. That resulted in an 80-game suspension that carried over into the start of last season. Laureano returned in April but saw his production crater. He hit .211/.287/.376 over 94 games, with the batting average and on-base percentage each representing career worsts. Only in 2020 did he have a lesser slugging mark.
The residual effects of the suspension aren’t the sole possible explanation for Laureano’s down year. He carried a .223/.300/.395 line into mid-August, production that was below his previous career standards but still marginally above average after adjusting for the ballpark. He suffered a left oblique strain on August 15 and landed on the injured list. Upon returning three weeks later, he limped to a .108/.175/.216 mark in 40 trips to the dish before suffering a hamstring strain that ended his season.
Coming off that year, it’s certainly not an ideal time for Oakland to move him. Laureano’s suspension kept him from surpassing four years of service time last season — players don’t accrue service while on the restricted list — and extended Oakland’s window of arbitration control by another season. He’s eligible for arbitration through the end of 2025 and making $3.55MM for the coming season. That’s affordable even for a team that runs one of the league’s lowest payrolls. That all leaves open the potential for Oakland to hold Laureano into the coming season and reevaluate offers at the deadline after a hopeful better first half from the right-handed hitter.
Another club making a very strong offer in the coming weeks could change the calculus for Oakland, of course. It’s hard to imagine they’d steadfastly refuse to entertain any trade discussions on Laureano. Yet it’s also understandable the club doesn’t seem particularly eager to shop him with his stock at its current point. Assuming he stays in Oakland, he’ll join the likes of Ruiz, Seth Brown (if he’s not dealt himself), Cristian Pache, Conner Capel and Brent Rooker in the outfield mix.
No one reportedly pursuing Ramon Laureano Trade
Yeah wtf are they supposed to get for him? Nothing like a sharp decline post ped suspension to really Jack up the trade value
The A’s are a joke at this point, don’t even include them in rumors any longer.
Must be nice with your team having money. You’ll see a 20 game swing this season
These teams are cheating their fans. They receive about $100 million from TV revenues and redistribution from the big spenders exceeding salary limits before they’ve ever sold a ticket.
And then keep trading everyone away whose salary is even middling.
They take the $ and put out a putrid product.
Yep, SODOM. My thoughts exactly. Keep delivering the truth.
No reason to trade Ramon right now. If he comes back and be the player he was 2 years ago then the A’s will have the upper hand whether to deal Laureano..:
The one guy I don’t want the Padres to pursue. An overpay if it was a Kim for Laureano and don’t think he provides anymore upside than Grisham. Just give me Profar if anything, and a hard pass on Laureano.
Yeah profar is way more valuable because of how versatile he his. Plus a better bat.
Why would the A’s want Kim who has even less club control than Laureano!?
Because he’s a much better player. Laureano will be a non tender candidate next offseason if he doesn’t re up his game. Kim would be way to much for just Laureano alone.
A’s would have no interest in Kim at all. You need to understand that the A’s are rebuilding and Kim is 2 years out from FA.
Kim is too old for the A’s
no one cares
If Kim has 1 or two good seasons, then the A’s could flip him for two or so lesser players. TB does this same thing most seasons.
Why would they want to trade for him if all they’ll get by flipping him are “lesser players?” That’s a terrible argument.
And they can’t flip him for anything after two seasons because he’ll be a FA.
And don’t try it with ThEy CaN eXtEnD hIm!
Perfect fit for the padres clubhouse
No.
Since he is coming off a real bad injury year his value is about nothing but some AA low prospect. So why trade somebody with no value. Best to wait and see if he can bounce back to have some type of value.
Oh they gon let it marinade for a bit
Yeah this got put out there because somebody wanted it out there
I have been an A’s fan since 1982. I remember the Oakland Coliseum being beautiful before MT Davis ruined it. I can’t take this owner, John Fisher anymore. OAKLAND IS NOT A SMALL MARKET! Why even bother owning a team if you don’t spend money on the PLAYERS? I’ve had it
Why are you mad at John Fisher, then? He has nothing to do with baseball operations. Be mad Beane and Forst who can’t draft and develop players worth a damn. Blame Lew Wolf for wasting 15 years trying to force the Fremont and then San Jose ballparks and whining when those cities wouldn’t give him a billion dollar real estate handout so he could build a shopping mall. If you were an A’s fan you would be mad that MLB gave the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Padres, Brewers and Cardinals loans to build their new parks but are offering the A’s nothing.
Believe me, I blame all of those people you mentioned.
Spending doesn’t equal winning.
But their payroll equals nada, I don’t know why they think anyone would come to their games. They make money by collecting TV money and the tax on the big spending teams.
Be mad Beane and Forst who can’t draft and develop players worth a damn.
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The A’s have been one of the most successful teams in BB over the past 20 years. 11 playoff appearances since 2000. 86 wins on average. All that despite not having a fan base.
But the Esteury Ruiz trade was pretty nice, loaded up with pitching prospects, replaced the 3B and the C you traded away, and landed a CF that could be a generational player.
Sure, but there are 26 better prospects than Ruiz according to MLB, so there are apparently at least 27 generational prospects simultaneously right now, which is incredible. Golden age of generational prospects
There has always been near empty stadium attendance even for the early-mid 70s dynasty with Blue Moon, Catfish, Vida, Rollie, Campy, Reggie and all the rest.
There has always been near empty stadium attendance even for the early-mid 70s dynasty
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Yup, they averaged 922,000 despite winning 3 consecutive WS. I hate it when fans keep their hands in their pockets, but complain when the owner doesn’t spend their money.
I’d like to see both a floor and a ceiling on spending to make things more competitive, but fans in Boston, NY, StL,Cubs, etc., come out to support their teams, and then are the beneficiary of increased spending. Fans can’t expect to stay home, spend nothing, and still expect a good team.
They lead the league in attendance during the 88-91 run.
Laureano has zero value right now. The A’s can get a much better deal at the trade deadline if Laureano produces next season
80 game suspension AND having to remain in Oakland? Dang, pretty sure the 8th Ammendment was set up to prevent this kind of cruel punishment.
pretty sure the 8th Ammendment was set up to prevent this kind of cruel punishment.
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Not in baseball. Baseball is too important for it to be constricted by the Constitution.
Dude had a canon for an arm, then the PED suspension happened, pretty much tainting his skills. Oh well, hopefully he recovers we all deserve a second shot.
I agree. I would like to see him over come the hole he has dug for himself. The PED suspension, and the hothead label as well. Maybe something to do with the roids, who knows? Plenty of opportunity there to mature and grow for sure.
Career year in 2019 like many AAAA players and then a drug suspension? No value.
AAAA player that’s seen less than 100 games at AAA. I’ve now heard every haters warcry by now…
I think the headline is missing the key word “yet”. His value is way down, which is why they aren’t trading him. If he has an .825 OPS at the trade deadline, there is a pretty good chance he’ll be traded.
50/60 even 70% off on everything in the store. No reasonable offer will be rejected, including for the fixtures. All kidding aside, if the team cannot viably make it in Oakland, then they should move. But this does nothing for anyone…Oakland’s fans are cheated, enormous amounts of time is wasted looking for handouts from the taxpayers, and the rest of baseball has to suffer from the lack of competitiveness.
2021 Payroll: $42,421,870
2022 Opening Day Payroll: $30,221,166 (-28.76% year over year)
I don’t understand what payroll the A’s are stripping down. There are individual players who make more than the A’s entire roster.
A’s closed 2022 with a $50 million payroll and are projected at $56,205,000 for 2023.
Full accounting: fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/athletics
Face it. Baseball is no longer about pride in your city, with millionaires floating a payroll to break even or slight profit to hedge against years when they take a slight loss.
Now it is %100 about fleecing the customer and making BIG profits.
Ivy League GMs and greedy owners and investors are ruining a good thing.
The only people who want expansion are investors,who want in on screwing the American public.
Well, that’s what a get for being a fan…..
I’m sure lots of player would too, but you get my point…..screaming because the team I identify with has decided to become a perennial loser until convenient……..fans are so complacent these days…..
“A’s Reportedly Not Pursuing “juicing cheater’ Trade”