Elephant Rumblings: A’s gain one, lose one in Rule 5 Draft

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

This December’s Winter Meetings have come and gone, and while the A’s didn’t surprise in making a Rule 5 selection, they wound up net even in terms of prospects through the draft since they also lost Cooper Bowman to the Reds. Cincinnati took the 24-year-old infielder seventh overall in the first round.

Bowman still holds some promise, but the A’s left him off the 40-man roster. Perhaps he wasn’t convincing enough as an experimental centerfielder with the Triple-A Aviators last season; that position is a key need for the A’s. Bowman also fared poorly at the plate with Las Vegas, though he hit for a 138 wRC+ through 371 plate appearances earlier in the year at Double-A Midland.

The A’s had the fifth overall pick, with which they chose yet another young pitcher with good stuff and shaky command in Noah Murdock. Connor Ashford and Nico have some great coverage and analysis on the A’s latest acquisition right here on AN.

The A’s front office still has plenty of work to do, with conspicuous holes in their defense at center field and third base and plenty of room for more pitching depth—which pretty much every team always needs.

GM David Forst has also been hinting at a possible extension for top slugger Brent Rooker, which has yet to materialize. More deals are expected, with more than $25 million left to reach $105 million in total payroll for 2025—a figure in line with Forst’s previous statements and possibly necessary to keep the players union at bay. We’ll have the details here as they emerge.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics 2024 Season in Review: T.J. McFarland
• Cincinnati Reds Select A’s Prospect in Rule 5 Draft
• Oakland Ballers Announce 2025 Schedule
• Los Angeles Angels Snag Former A’s Prospect

MLB News & Interest:

• Is data dead? MLB’s search for the next competitive advantage may have a softer touch ($)
• MLBPA conducts financial review, bolsters collective bargaining team ($)
• Giants’ Bob Melvin enthralled by Willy Adames’ productivity, durability ($)
• Juan Soto says he wants to help Mets ‘grow a dynasty’ at introductory news conference ($)
• Agent Joel Wolfe On Roki Sasaki’s Free Agency
• Latest On Yankees’ Offseason Plans
• Latest On Giants, Corbin Burnes
• Juan Soto’s Hall Of Fame Track
• The Opener: Bregman, Soto, Adames
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

What a bargain!

More bargains!