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The Oakland Telegraph
21 February 2028
Offseason moves leave A's fans worried
By Lou Singh-Hismarbles, troublesome GM signings correspondent
A year ago, as Oakland general manager Paulie Beane basked in the glow of a fourth straight World Series triumph, A's fans were worried their GM might decide to leave the club. Now, they're concerned he might have completely lost his touch. As Beane yesterday indicated he was probably done with trades and signings ahead of the 2028 season, many pundits were quick to take to the airwaves to assert that the A's had had a poor offseason, and had taken a step backwards. Beane was equally quick to point out that many of these pundits were only in the media world because they weren't capable enough to get a job running a baseball team, but nevertheless there was a clear sense among even the staunchest A's fans that getting back to the top of the game may be a long road for their legendary manager.
Beane lost shortstop Josh Morgan and living legend Jose Fernandez to free agency, and replacing them was clearly his biggest offseason priorities. But his first move took everyone by surprise. He moved to strengthen his offense by away trading centre fielder Eddie Holland, who had a disappointing year in 2027, to Tampa Bay, and in return acquiring four-time all-star outfielder Luis Guzman. Guzman, 28, is principally a left fielder but will play centre for the A's. Drafted in round 1 by the Rays in 2022, he has a .908 career OPS mark. Outfielder Jim Thompson, infield backup Ketel Marte and minor league relief pitcher Brandon MacPherson also left the Coliseum as part of the deal. Also joining Oakland is 23-year-old minor league centre fielder Jimmy Cochran. The fickle fans somehow managed to be both gutted to lose Holland and ecstatic to obtain Guzman. Make your minds up, freakshows! Journalists, bloggers and sub-editors were appalled at the prospect of having Guzman and near-namesake Alejandro Gusman on the same team. The $15m per year Gusman, sorry I mean Guzman, was headed towards free agency after 2028, but Beane rapidly signed him up for a further three seasons at that wage.
Fernandez's departure left Oakland's quota of Jose's in the pitching staff at an unacceptable two: Jose Duran and Jose Martinez. Beane swiftly addressed this crucial problem, as well as the less important issue of disappointing righty relief displays last year, by signing veteran free agent Jose Dominguez. Dominguez was also at Tampa Bay previously, acting as an occasional closer, and was an all-star in 2022 and 2024. The 37-year-old signed on the dotted line for one year at $4m. A's fan spokesman O. Clandmad said he agreed the club can never have too many Jose's on the roster, so was very pleased by this move.
But Beane's moves to replace Morgan and Fernandez have been heavily criticised. In for Morgan is free agent Riley Unroe, a 32-year-old switch-hitter who was an all-star in 2023, but defensively sound rather than defensively unimpeachable as Beane normally requires of his shortstops. Unroe will in fact play second base, with Alejandro Guzman, sorry I mean Gusman, moving to shortstop. Defensively inept, to put it mildly, not long ago, Guzman, sorry I mean Gusman, has become an inspiration for malcoordinated kids everywhere. Through sheer hard work and practice, he has become not just decent, but excellent in the infield. Time will tell whether Beane is right to now trust him in the vital shortstop position.
In for Fernandez is lefty pitcher Jon Dixon. The 29-year-old was the third overall draft pick in 2021 by St. Louis but has never quite lived up to that potential. He has career marks of a 49-60 win-loss record and 5.21 ERA. Paulie Beane signed the free agent to a ludicrous three-year deal for $9.5m per year. The typical Oakland fan's reaction to Dixon's signing appeared to be: "What the smeg is Beane doing? Is he drunk? Seriously. Dixon?" Most presumed Beane would simply promote young lefty Ramon Mendoza into the rotation. Beane explained that he feels Dixon will do rather better with Oakland's quality defense behind him, and also felt Mendoza isn't quite ready for the show yet, and if nothing else Dixon's addition will add rotation pitching depth. Beane added that he felt Unroe and Dixon were the best available free agent options in their respective positions who did not have Type A status; he protects his draft picks more aggressively than a female swan protects her cygnets.
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