RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesThe MLB trade deadline is approaching and teams are having discussions on whether they intend to deal players or stand pat.
The Athletics are a team that many in baseball thought could make a run at the wild card, but they have slipped to having the second-worst record in the American League at 45-63.
The 2026 trade deadline is officially scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. PT. A .417 winning percentage is typically enough for teams to consider a massive overhaul of the roster, but not the A's. They're sticking with their guys.
“We’ve built this team for the long haul. I’m not looking to break the team up. Just because we’re not in a playoff race doesn’t mean you’re selling off pieces," A's general manager David Forst said on A's Cast. "I don’t feel compelled to make a trade just because the deadline is Monday.”
The A's have added standout prospects and formed a promising young core that is expected to be together for years to come. The Athletics ' opening day roster was one of the youngest in all of baseball at an average of 27.4 years old, according to Statista .
Many of their key players are under age 30. Nick Kurtz is 23, so is Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom are both 24. Lawrence Butler just turned 26 on July 10, joining Denzel Clarke. J.T. Ginn is 27. Shea Langeliers is 28.
Despite building all this young talent together, things just haven't gone right for the A's during the 2026 season.
The A's have lost nine consecutive series entering their four-game series against the Boston Red Sox , which concludes Thursday, July 30 . The team's last such series losing streak occurred last season between May 5 and June 5.
The Athletics have not lost more than nine consecutive series since 2023, when they lost their first 10. After losing two of the first three games versus Boston, the A's have gone 12 consecutive series without a win, which is their longest streak since they lost 12 straight series from July 11 to Aug. 24, 2008.
The A's could use additional support at pitching, having a need primarily for young pitching talent. The A's don't have a proven starting pitcher or a veteran reliever in big moments. That veteran relief could also be someone who could serve as a primary closer for the Athletics. They currently don't a traditional closer.
The A's bullpen is 0-3 with two saves, three blown saves, a 6.17 ERA and has allowed 10-of-22 (45.5%) inherited runners to score over the last eight games.
Overall, the Athletics have been losing games due to poor performances at the mound. Their bullpen is responsible for the highest ERA in the majors (5.45), they rank third in most blown saves (21), sixth in lowest save percentage (56.3%), highest percentage of inherited runners scored (36.8%), and eighth in most innings pitched (435.2).
Aside from pitching, the A's could use better luck in the health and medical department. The Athletics have 13 players on the injury list, including some of their best such as Kurtz, Clarke, Langeliers, Kuroda-Grauer, Zack Gelof, Justin Sterner, Luis Severino and Brent Rooker, who will miss the year after season-ending surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his left knee.
It's all but over for the A's during the 2026 season, despite there still being a lot of baseball left to be played.
But make no mistake this wasn't expected of the A's. Minor setbacks prevented them from seeing their potential for this season, but they won't be hauling off players, rather play this year out and prepare for 2027.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: A's won't make blockbuster trade ahead of deadline, GM David Forst says
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