Oakland

Athletics

It seemed like there were better third base options out there for the A’s, but they settled for the steady glove. Jon Heyman reported that the deal was worth $2.15 million and includes $400,000 in bonuses. The 33-year-old Urshela hit .250/.286/.361 in 128 games for the Tigers and Braves last season. He shouldn’t be much of a fantasy factor while hitting in the bottom half of the A’s lineup.

The 33-year-old is widely considered to be an above average defender, but Urshela slashed just .250/.286/.361 with nine homers and 52 RBI in 461 plate appearances between the Braves and Tigers during the 2024 campaign. It’s a nice signing for the A’s, as his presence will improve their overall infield, but Urshela shouldn’t be counted on for fantasy purposes.

Max Schuemann, Brett Harris, Darell Hernaiz and C.J. Alexander are the team’s internal options at third, but Forst is looking to do better. Josh Rojas, Yoán Moncada, Luis Urías, Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela are some of the modestly priced options out there in free agency. The A’s had six different players start at least 10 games at third last season, with the since-released Abraham Toro leading the way.

If Springs can get healthy and stay that way, this will likely turn out to be a steal for the A’s. Still, this is a 32-year-old with career-high inning totals of 135 in 2022 and 112 in 2017. He’s never been over 85 innings otherwise. Upon returning from Tommy John last summer, had a 3.27 ERA in seven starts and then went back on the IL with elbow fatigue. His fantasy stock definitely takes a hit with the organization change here, though he figures to be worth using in mixed leagues while healthy. He’ll slot into an A’s rotation set to include Luis Severino and JP Sears. Mitch Spence and Osvaldo Bido seem like the favorites for the last two spots, with Joey Estes, J.T. Ginn and Lopez also in the mix.

Lopez might be the biggest beneficiary of this deal, as he figures to have a much greater opportunity in Sacramento than he ever would with the Rays. The 26-year-old lefty has spent most of the last two season at Triple-A Durham, posting a 3.54 ERA and a 193/92 K/BB in 168 innings. He doesn’t offer much in the way of upside, but he might be able to stick as a fifth starter/middle reliever.

We’re not sure whether the Rays place greater value on Boyle or the 36th overall pick in the draft, but those were the two biggest gets here. Boyle has a fantastic arm that has rarely proven capable of throwing strikes. He seemed to make great strides initially after the A’s acquired him from the Rays at the 2023 trade deadline, but he took a couple of steps back last season in totaling a 6.42 ERA and 40 walks in 47 2/3 innings in the majors and a 5.12 ERA and 39 walks in 45 2/3 innings in Triple-A. The Rays will probably have him start games in Triple-A initially, but if he’s going to make an impact, it seems more likely to happen as a reliever.

Sampson, a 15th-rounder in 2023, hit .282/.378/.482 in a 2024 season spent mostly at high-A Lansing. The A’s gave him a bit of a look at third last year, but he seems pretty well locked in at first, and unfortunately for him, he’s on his way to an organization with two clearly better first base prospects in Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan.

Watters, a 2022 fourth-round pick out of West Virginia, had a 5.23 ERA and a 56/33 K/BB in 63 2/3 innings last season, most of them coming in high-A ball. He wasn’t considered one of the Athletics’ better pitching prospects, but the Rays must see something they like.

The A’s are going to roll the dice on an obviously talented lefty, but one with injury questions after returning from Tommy John surgery last year and getting shut down with additional elbow issues at the end of the season. They could afford to deal from their rotation depth with Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen back. Boyle adds to that depth, though he’s more likely to be helpful as a reliever.

Bowden’s last appearance in the big leagues came back in 2021 when he posted a lackluster 6.56 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 42/21 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings (39 appearances) for the Rockies. The 30-year-old southpaw spent all of last year at in the Braves’ organization at Triple-A Gwinnett, compiling a pedestrian 4.03 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 35/17 K/BB ratio across 29 innings (27 appearances). He’ll function as emergency left-handed relief depth for the rebuilding Athletics.