Elephant Rumblings: Without Langeliers, Where Do The A’s Go?

Jul 24, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris (36) and catcher Shea Langeliers (23) react after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Welcome to a brand new week A’s fans!

The club had a tough road trip, going 2-4 in six games in Arizona and Minnesota. That’s dropped them to 44-61 heading home. That’s the second-worst record in the American League (ahead of only the Los Angeles Angeles) and tied for fifth-worst in the entire sport. Such a letdown considering how the season started.

Perhaps worse than that, the club announced that All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and is headed for surgery, which will almost certainly keep him on the shelf for the rest of 2026 and ending his terrific season on a sour note. He’ll finish with a .263/.332/.497 slash line with 23 long balls and his first career All-Star appearance.

Now that he’s on the shelf, the A’s will turn to Plan B. That means everyone moves up the pecking order a spot, making Jonah Heim the presumptive new everyday starter with the 31-year-old Brian Serven serving as his backup behind the plate. In a lost season that’s fine enough to finish out the final two months and Langeliers will presumably be healthy and ready to go when pitchers and catchers report next spring. Heim has performed well when in the lineup and as a former All-Star and Gold Glove winner he has a solid track record.

But will he even remain with the Athletics during the winter? There were already rumors swirling about his availability this trade deadline season and those are likely to pop back up this offseason. Langeliers only has two more years of club control remaining and he’s one of the major notable players who hasn’t reportedly had extension talks yet with the front office. Is that possibly because the front office doesn’t see a long-term future with our star catcher?

If the A’s are planning for life post-Langeliers, they’re not doing a great job of it. The club left former first-round pick Daniel Susac unprotected in the off-season’s Rule 5 Draft and he’s no longer an option. The club’s farm system is completely devoid of catching talent with no catcher ranking among the system’s top 30 prospects. If there is a trade coming eventually, they could do the same thing with Langeliers as they did with Sean Murphy: trading for your immediate replacement behind the dish.

By the time Langeliers hits free agency he’ll be 31 years old. Would the A’s really shell out another massive contract for an aging backstop, or would they return to an old and familiar formula of trading assets at their highest value? It’s something the A’s were considering before the injury and it’s one that they’ll certainly entertain all winter long as they prepare for the last season in Sacramento before the move to Las Vegas.

Have a great start to your week everyone.

A’s Coverage:

Parity (Mediocrity) Could Make For An Interesting Trade Deadline

Sources: A’s star Langeliers may miss rest of ’26

A’s Lose Finale (And Series) To Twins 11-8

Twins Shut Out A’s 2-0 to Even Series

A’s Prevail 2-0 in Tightly Contested Pitching Duel

Cuban’s investment group purchases minority stake in Athletics

A’s place rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on injured list with ruptured testicle

Another ‘step in the right direction’ for Lopez in hunt to regain rookie form

Blogfather Saves The Day With Pearls Of Most Excellent Advice

What will the Athletics do leading up to Trade Deadline after cold streak?

A’s Add Next Wave of Prospects in 2026 Draft

Athletics Get Hitting Help by Claiming Hot Bat off Waivers

MLB News and Interest:

Red Sox To Trade Connelly Early To Nationals For Curtis Mead

On sun-splashed day, Beltrán, Andruw, Kent enshrined in Hall

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger heads to IL with hamstring strain

Brewers Designate Lance McCullers Jr. For Assignment

Trade rumors: Alcantara, Abrams, Blue Jays, Mets

More history! Miz sets franchise record with 7 straight K’s to open game

Marlins’ losing streak hits franchise-high 12 after sweep

Blue Jays’ Max Scherzer to come off IL, start on 42nd b-day Monday

Diamondbacks Interested In Extension With Gabriel Moreno

Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Possibly eliminates chances of a trade:

Jeffrey Springs just left his start in Minnesota in the second inning due to injury.

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 26, 2026

Tough first outing for newest Athletics prospect Dallas Keuchel:

Dallas Keuchel in his Aviators debut: 2 IP 4 hits 4 ER 1 BB 2 K Sat at 88.4 mph with his sinker, just above where he was in the big leagues in 2024.

— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) July 27, 2026

Adding one reliever….

A’s have acquired RHP Scott Blewett from the Cardinals for cash considerations.

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 27, 2026

While subtracting another:

The A's are designating RHP Geoff Hartlieb for assignment.

— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) July 27, 2026

A former big league pitcher and a Korean pop group member? Why not?

A’s announce new investment group including former Major League pitcher Chan Ho Park and BTS member Suga has entered a strategic partnership with the club. pic.twitter.com/hOroKSQOPB

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 27, 2026

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →