A's Aggressive Pursuit of Max Fried Falls Short, But Signals a New Spending Era?
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2024 3:02 pm
The A's Aggressive Pursuit of Max Fried: A New Era in Oakland?
The Yankees landed Max Fried with a massive contract, but the Athletics reportedly being aggressive in the bidding raises some eyebrows. Are we witnessing a philosophical shift in Oakland, or is this just a PR move to appease the MLBPA and avoid a grievance?
The A's historically frugal spending habits are well-documented. Their recent Severino signing, while a franchise record, pales in comparison to Fried's deal. Is this sudden spending spree a genuine attempt to build a competitive team, or simply a way to inflate payroll and avoid penalties? The reported $105M CBT target suggests the latter, but their pursuit of top-tier free agents like Fried and Manaea hints at something more.
What's the A's true endgame here? Are they willing to consistently overpay to attract talent to their less-than-desirable current situation? Will this new spending approach extend beyond pitching, or is the rotation their sole focus? How will their strategy impact the remaining free agent market and potential trade targets? Could we see them absorb unfavorable contracts to reach their spending goal?
The A's sudden interest in big-name free agents, coupled with their willingness to forfeit draft picks, suggests a change in direction. Is this the dawn of a new era in Oakland, or just a temporary fix? Share your thoughts and predictions.
The Yankees landed Max Fried with a massive contract, but the Athletics reportedly being aggressive in the bidding raises some eyebrows. Are we witnessing a philosophical shift in Oakland, or is this just a PR move to appease the MLBPA and avoid a grievance?
The A's historically frugal spending habits are well-documented. Their recent Severino signing, while a franchise record, pales in comparison to Fried's deal. Is this sudden spending spree a genuine attempt to build a competitive team, or simply a way to inflate payroll and avoid penalties? The reported $105M CBT target suggests the latter, but their pursuit of top-tier free agents like Fried and Manaea hints at something more.
What's the A's true endgame here? Are they willing to consistently overpay to attract talent to their less-than-desirable current situation? Will this new spending approach extend beyond pitching, or is the rotation their sole focus? How will their strategy impact the remaining free agent market and potential trade targets? Could we see them absorb unfavorable contracts to reach their spending goal?
The A's sudden interest in big-name free agents, coupled with their willingness to forfeit draft picks, suggests a change in direction. Is this the dawn of a new era in Oakland, or just a temporary fix? Share your thoughts and predictions.