Oakland A's 2024 And Beyond Dynasty

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
31 October 2025
The morning after the three-peat before
By Lou Kingfortrades, roster adjustment correspondent

Last night at the Coliseum, the lights burned brightly in the Oakland front offices. While the players celebrated and their Mr 15 per cents hurriedly sought out every marketing and sponsorship deal for their clients that they could lay their hands on, the behind-the-scenes men and women at the baseball club had a lot of work to do. Paulie Beane, Oakland's now legendary GM ("undue modesty seems a little false when you've won three world titles", he says), together with some of his key staff such as sabremetrician Mike Rosoft-Excel, were scouring their databases. They need to find new players because they cannot afford all their current ones. Penny-pinching owner Ban-ki Rupt ("an economiser", he calls himself) has, despite the postseason revenues, kept Oakland's payroll budget at $150m for 2026. That means shipping out some of the more expensive established players and finding new, cheaper ones. Beane is not expected to make any trades until after free agents have filed; he wants other clubs to have budget space freed up if they are to take over some of his high salaries. But when every penny counts there is no respite. The groundwork must start the day after becoming world champions. The 2026 season has effectively already started.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
15 November 2025
Big budget brainache for Beane
By O. Myword, worst case scenario correspondent

I can confidently predict that no members of the salary arbitration panel will be on Oakland GM Paulie Beane's Christmas card list. They announced their arbitration hearing results yesterday and it contained the news Oakland feared most: starting pitcher Karl Dickson was apparently determined to be a super-2 qualifier (it would be nice if the panel actually confirmed that, chuntered an irate Beane), and was awarded arbitration.

Arbitration awards for 2026 were also made to Jakson Reetz ($9.0m), Denny Miller ($14.4m), Patrick Snel ($7.1m) and Alejandro Gusman ($7.1m), which are all high but in line with Beane's expectations. But it is the Dickson decision which has really got his goat. Yes, the 23-year-old Dickson is an excellent player, but he has only 2 years 139 days of service time, and has a 21-23 record with 3.32 ERA. The panel awarded him $14.1m for 2026.

Beane is now left in a right old pickle for next season. With these arbitration estimates, and rolling forward the value of other players' existing contracts, Oakland's payroll projects to be $175m. Owner Ban-ki Rupt has set a budget of $150m. This is, says Beane, "every so slightly a teeny weeny financial cashflow problem." Unlike this time last year, departing free agent contracts are not riding to Beane's rescue. Left fielder Raimel Tapia, ancient shortstop Marcus Semien and surprisingly decent reliever Luke Jackson will all be leaving. However, their salaries are only just over $7m combined, so the committed payroll will remain $167m.

Pundits predict that Beane may look to move on Denny Miller, who, despite being a three-time all-star, looks overpaid for next year, and reserve catcher Luis Torrens, who has not provided good value for his $5m salary, to put it mildly. Replacing these two with minimum salary players will reduce Beane's projected payroll to $149m. That's within budget of course, but as Beane points out, that would leave him with no budget headroom to offer new contracts to prospective arbitration-eligible players like left fielder Martin Wilson, and he'll be back at the mercy of the arbitration panel again in a year's time.

So will Beane look to move on one or more other big contracts to give him that headroom? High-earning key pieces like Reetz, Jose Fernandez, Josh Morgan, Eddie Holland and Rodney Stewart look untouchable. But could Beane be considering moving ageing club stalwarts like first baseman Matt Olson ($9m next year) or shortstop Franklin Barreto ($7m)? We'll find out in good time, of course, but no harm in filling some spare column inches engaging in wild speculation in the meanwhile.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
21 November 2025
Miller, Torrens and Barreto all depart in squad shake-up at Oakland
By O. Revoir, goodbyes correspondent

GM Paulie Beane wasted no time at all in restructuring his roster for the 2026 season, as he looks to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive World Series while keeping the club on an even keel financially. Three multiplayer trades were all completed yesterday. Your correspondents at this newspaper, never the sharpest tools in the box at the best of times, found their heads spinning trying to keep up with developments.

Beane's first trade was with neighbours San Francisco. Pitcher Denny Miller, reserve catcher Luis Torrens and minor league shortstop Byung-ho So, together with their combined outrageous $19.4m salary, went to the Giants. Oakland received in return promising left fielder Dennis Hawkins (24/L/3.5*, drafted 2020 rd 1 by San Francisco), who will take the spot vacated by departed free agent Raimel Tapia, and minor league starting pitcher Will Graves (24/R/0.5*, drafted 2023 rd 1 by San Francisco).

The next trade saw longstanding shortstop, and holder of four World Series rings, Franklin Barreto, get sent to Cleveland. Coming to Oakland are two 23-year-old catchers, Junior Vincent (23/R/1*, drafted 2023 rd 1 by Cleveland), who takes the place of the useless Torrens as backup to Jakson Reetz, and Pedro Trinidad (23/R/1*, drafted 2023 supp rd 1 by Cleveland).

Still keeping up, readers? I'm not sure I am. Anyway, the final trade was with Arizona and saw Beane try and strengthen his infield backup options. Second baseman Jose Gonzalez (24/R/1.5*, drafted 2024 supp rd 1 by Arizona) and distinctly forgettable career minor league shortstop Keith Snider (24/R/1*, drafted 2024 rd 3 by Arizona) moved to the west coast. Heading into the desert in return were World Series hero reliever Yi-ping Cao, guru of swing and miss at the plate Bobby Foley and journeyman minor league catcher Shawn Swain. The 30-year-old lefty Cao had not long previously signed a three-year deal with Oakland which was due to begin next season, but, in a fantastic display of long-term strategic thinking, was allowed by the A's to move after the good development in the minors of lefty reliever Jose Duran, whom the A's drafted back in June and now joins the major league bullpen.

All the players arriving at the club are either minimum salary players or on minor league contracts. The net result is that Oakland's payroll for 2026 is down from $175m to $140m, $10m within budget. Knowing the club was back in the black, a satisfied owner Ban-ki Rupt went on holiday. While his back was turned, Beane reportedly offered contract extensions at little or no increase on current salaries to key players Eddie Holland, Alejandro Gusman, Patrick Snel, Karl Dickson and Jakson Reetz.

Unprecedented success on a shoestring these last three years has seemingly failed to prevent Oakland's fans being finnicky so and sos. A survey revealed that they were severely disappointed by the departures of Miller, Barreto, Cao, and, inexplicably, the unknown Swain. "Just a few weeks after winning the world title and they're getting narky. Ungrateful lot. Even I'd only barely heard of Swain", Beane is rumoured to have grumbled privately.

...And breathe. I need to lie down.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
1 February 2026
Beane: Our offseason moves are done
By Noah Moretradesthisyear, roster confirmation correspondent

Oakland GM Paulie Beane announced yesterday that he and his sabermetric minions have completed their offseason roster moves, and the squad is now set for the start of the 2026 season and their attempt to complete a fourth successive World Series victory.

Having agreed a flurry of trades back in November, even before the engraver had finished carving their name into the World Series trophy, and with the aim of making his roster younger and cheaper, Beane has completed three cheap free agent signings to plug the remaining gaps. Switch-hitting Ketel Marte (32/S/2*) joins as the sixth infielder on the active roster; he is strong defensively and a pinch-running threat. Lance Roberts (31/R/1*) has played second base all his career, but Beane noticed some nice pitching stats on his scouting report and is experimenting with a career change as a relief pitcher. Which seems realistic. And yesterday in Beane's final move, Aaron Sanchez (33/R/2.5*), who was utter toilet in a brief spell at the A's in 2022 but nevertheless remains an exceptionally high percentage groundball pitcher, was signed to add right-handed starting pitching depth. Tight owner Ban-ki Rupt was delighted that the three players' salaries are just $2.3m in total.

Oakland's player payroll for 2026 now stands at $142m, giving Beane the headroom below his $150m budget that he wanted. But the question is though, is this younger A's roster good enough? Here at the Telegraph we have no idea, by the way. There's a time and a place for expert knowledge and informed opinion, and it's not on this newspaper.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
5 April 2026
The future's bright in Oakland
By Junior Players, prospects correspondent

Oakland's minor league manager Ron Washington-Deecy and sabermetrician Mike Rosoft-Excel were both awarded well-deserved pay rises after yesterday's announcement of BNN's Top 100 prospects. Despite winning the last three championships and picking last in the draft, the A's also managed to significantly strengthen their farm system. They posted no fewer than NINE players in the Top 100 list.

Lefty relief pitcher Jose Duran (#18), righty reliever Jose Martinez (#49) and catcher Junior Vincent (#94) all made their first appearance; it will also almost certainly be their last, since general manager Paulie Beane has them on the active roster to start the season. Starting pitchers Nathan Hamilton (#21) and Ramon Mendoza (#25) are pushing hard for roster spots this year, while Dylan Johnston (#63) briefly acted as backup catcher late last term during Jakson Reetz's postseason injury spell. Corner outfielders Robert Perry (#27) and William Morris (#44), plus young reliever drafted last year Gonzalo Avila (#52), complete the set.

A spokesman for BNN denied that the preponderance of Oakland prospects on the list was in any way connected to the ongoing relationship between Rosoft-Excel and the official who drafted BNN's list, Mya Crow-Softword.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
6 April 2026
A reshaped squad - but you can never write them off
Surely they can't win a fourth consecutive World Series, can they? They only made the postseason through the wildcard game and now Paulie Beane has cut the payroll by $35m. Our baseball predictions correspondent, Minnie Sotawillwinnit, doubts Beane can work his magic yet again.

Rotation: Super-ace Jose Fernandez (33/R/4.5*, 16-9 WL, 4.30 ERA in 2025) had a poor first half of last season. He came back strongly at the end but the cracks of the ageing process are beginning to show - he's lost half a star. Karl Dickson (24/R/4.5*, 13-14, 3.14) is now signed at a highly competitive $14m for each of the next five years and looks set to take over Oakland's ace spot in due course. Crocked Ambrose Bailey (27/R/4*, 3-0, 3.22) already has his sick note from his mum at the ready just in case, but returns to the rotation. He and last season's disappointing Rodney Stewart (28/L/4*, 13-9, 3.39) should on paper be good quality third and fourth starters. The man with great control over his pitching but no control over colleagues chuckling at his name, Bill Williams (27/R/3.5*, 7-10, 3.63), steps up from the bullpen. Nathan Hamilton, Aaron Sanchez and Ramon Mendoza are waiting in the minors for a sniff of a chance.

Bullpen: Here things get interesting. Hyper-talented Eric Wright (25/L/4.5*, 6-2, 2.11, 29 SV) remains the closer. Erratic righty Franyel Casadilla (29/R/5*, 4-4, 4.38) and lefty wonder arm Roy Ellis (23/L/5*, 3-3, 2.18) are the setup men. All good so far. The middle relievers are in principle right up Oakland's street: decent but on minimum salary. Melvi Salazar (31/R/3.5*, 4-1, 2.57) is either brilliant or hopeless, apparently at random. The other three could all be either brilliant or hopeless too, but the fun comes because we've no real idea, having essentially not seen them before. Juan Gonzalez (26/R/3.5*, drafted 2017 rd 2 by Houston) briefly pitched 6.1 scoreless innings at the tail end of last season. Mega prospect Jose Duran (22/L/5*, drafted 2025 rd 1 by Oakland) and Jose Martinez (22L/4.5*, drafted 2025 supp rd 1 by Oakland) will soon make their major league debuts.

Catcher: Unquestioned number one is defensive leviathan and genuinely half-decent hitter Jakson Reetz (30/R/4.5*, .324 OBP, 10 HR, 71 RBI in 2025). Probably rarely getting a game will be new arrival and now professional bench warmer Junior Vincent (24/R/1*, drafted 2023 rd 1 by Cleveland).

Infield: They were still playing baseball in black and white when steady old first baseman Matt Olson (32/L/3*, .352, 17, 74) joined the A's active roster. Alejandro Gusman (23/L/4*, .354, 3, 41) is distinctly average defensively by Beane's usual standards and could cause frustration at second base. Josh Morgan (30/R/4.5*, .383, 9, 73), who is like a wall in the infield, moves to shortstop after Franklin Barreto's trade. Celebrity teddy bear enthusiast Patrick Snel (25/L/4.5*, .311, 8, 55) seems to be improving fast and starts at third. Rich Weaver (26/R/1.5*, .274, 1, 9) and Ketel Marte (32/S/1*, .329, 1, 34) are reasonable infield backups, and, most crucially when Ban-ki Rupt is your owner, cheap as chips.

Outfield: Centre field is the sole preserve of lead-off hitter, main man, and all-round good egg Eddie Holland (27/L/4.5*, .338, 22, 97). Young newcomer Dennis Hawkins (24/L/3.5*, .339, 7, 33) is a left fielder, but will play designated hitter because emerging mediocre talent Martin Wilson (24/R/1.5*, .320, 4, 23) is much better defensively in that position. Isael Soto (29/L/3.5*, .301, 17, 97) gives it plenty of welly and plays right field amazingly well. Fifth outfielder is again Jim Thompson (27/R/2.5*, .212, 1, 6), the man who takes the phrase "journeyman pro" to a new level.

Beane looks to have slashed his payroll over the winter while not blatantly weakening his starting team. But, the bullpen is mostly young and unproven, and the squad depth is questionable. Beane has built an impressive farm system but are the prospects ready to step in and perform if injuries or loss of form hit? If Oakland can contend again this year, it could be Paulie Beane's greatest triumph yet. If not, then you can bet your bottom dollar that this newspaper will be first on the bandwagon to start slagging him off.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
11 April 2026
Oakland's fast start threatened by Morgan injury blow
By Marty McFlyingstart, week one correspondent

The sound of the loud thud as Paulie Beane smacked his forehead onto his desk in frustration was, insiders say, audible throughout Oakland's front office complex. As were the subsequent sounds of Beane's computer exiting at high velocity through his office window and smashing down onto the street below.

Field manager Phil D'Manager had just broken the news that shortstop Josh Morgan suffered a strained quad in yesterday's 9-0 win at Seattle, and will now miss five weeks. Oakland have got off to a terrific start and will be hoping Morgan's misfortune doesn't pre-empt a dip in luck for the team as a whole. They sit 4-0, and have out-scored opponents Minnesota and Seattle by 23 runs to 3 in winning those games. Third baseman Patrick Snel, he of teddygate fame, has smashed a home run in each of the games so far.

Ketel Marte will step into the shortstop role during Morgan's absence. Switch-hitting 26-year-old third baseman Leon Aponte comes onto the roster as backup infielder.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
13 April 2026
Early test of A's squad depth as second injury strikes
By Di Sabledlist, injuries correspondent

Oakland suffered their second injury blow of the new season, as reliever Jose Martinez was ruled out for three months with torn triceps. The low pain threshold wimp suffered the injury after throwing just eleven pitches during yesterday's 5-2 loss to Seattle, the A's first of the new campaign. He will now miss three months, the poor lamb. Johnny Jackson comes up from the minor league roster to take his bullpen spot and hopefully display a bit more bottle.

The World Series champion A's have an early, albeit entirely meaningless at this stage, lead in the American League West division and hold a 5-1 record. Yesterday's defeat came after Seattle scored 4 unearned runs in a ludicrous 5th inning, during which malcoordinated second baseman Alejandro Gusman committed three errors. General manager Paulie Beane simply doesn't accept such displays of abysmalness in defense, so we hope for Gusman's sake that he doesn't do that again.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
20 April 2026
Oakland's fast start continues despite increasing injury misfortune
By Terry Blibadluck, upside down horseshoes correspondent

Paulie Beane, Oakland's general manager, said he suspected things might have gotten jinxed when in preseason he dropped a mirror as he saw a black cat while walking under a ladder. He didn't explain why he was carrying the mirror. And so it came to pass, as his unlucky team yesterday suffered their third player injury within the first fortnight of the season.

This time it is Oakland's clumsy clutz second baseman Alejandro Gusman who has been struck down while undertaking the task which even most 2-year-olds could complete without harm, baserunning. Putting one foot in front of the other, or "running" to use the technical term, seems like a fairly rudimentary activity for an able-bodied adult human being, but apparently it is proving difficult for a number of the A's batters. Gusman hurt himself during yesterday's 7-4 win over the Texas Rangers, and will miss two weeks with an oblique strain. No, I've no clue what that is either. As Gusman heads to the disabled list, Rich Weaver takes over at second base. Jose Gonzalez, who arrived from Arizona over the winter in the Cao trade, comes up to the active roster as infield backup.

Despite their rash of injuries, the world champion A's have maintained their good start, sitting in first place in the American League West division with a 9-3 record. Oakland's pitching has been superb so far, as they lead the majors with a 2.25 ERA. Starters Karl Dickson and Rodney Stewart have been especially brilliant, with a combined 5-0 record and 3 earned runs allowed in 40 innings pitched.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
27 April 2026
Snel smashes Houston for the cycle
By Si Cull, great batting correspondent

Oakland third baseman Patrick Snel proved that he has put last season's "teddygate" controversy firmly behind him, as he became the first A's batter of the Paulie Beane era to hit for the cycle. Snel went 5-6 with 4 RBIs in yesterday's 14-8 blowout win against the Houston Astros. His outstanding display included his 7th home run of the season. The cuddly toy-loving softie managed just 8 homers in the whole of 2025.

Beane said, "Congratulations to Patrick. This is an uncharacteristically good display of batting prowess as far as Oakland batters usually go, so a pleasant surprise. Ok, Patrick is, shall we say, less than effective against lefty pitchers, but he is lethal against righties." Snel told reporters: "For the first time in my career, I felt like I wasn't swinging at the plate more in hope than in expectation. It felt distinctly odd."

The A's currently have a 12-6 record, and are neck and neck in the American League West with Houston, who are 13-7.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
1 May 2026
Stewart's hot form earns pitcher of the month honours
By Will Donemate, congratulations correspondent

Oakland A's pitcher Rodney Stewart has been in sensational form so far this season, and was rewarded for his efforts with the American League pitcher of the month award for April. Stewart went 4-0 in four starts, allowing just 4 runs in 32.2 innings pitched for a 1.10 ERA. He has helped Oakland to a 15-7 start in defence of their World Series crown.

A delighted Stewart told assembled reporters at yesterday's club press conference, "I'm supposed to say something along the lines of how it is the team that comes first, and that the only thing that matters to me is that we won the games I played in, and that it is only with the help of my team mates that I've put up those numbers this month. But we all know, deep down, no baseball player really thinks these things. If the team wins but I play dreadfully I'll get cut. So I'm well chuffed with this honour, which is all down to me." Stewart added, "The club have got me booked onto a media training refresher course in a couple of days."

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
5 May 2026
Oakland stalwart Olson signs contract extension to 2028
By X. Tension-Agreed, contract negotiations correspondent

Oakland's general manager Paulie Beane has never traded for or signed a first baseman. He inherited Ike Davis in the position in 2015 from his predecessor, Billy Beane, and promoted Matt Olson from the minor league roster when he traded Davis away at the end of the 2016 season. Olson has then occupied the position permanently in the nine seasons since, averaging well over 150 games per season. In the five years from 2020 to 2024 he missed only five games.

Olson, 32, has been in good form this year, boasting a .370 on-base percentage with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs, helping the A's establish a 17-9 record. He has signed for $5.5m per year for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, a reduction on his current $9m deal which ends this year. Beane told reporters, "Mary-Kate, er sorry, Matt, is an integral part of this team and has four World Series rings. I'm delighted he's agreed to stay with us. Primarily because he's happy to accept a lot less cash, which obviously trumps all other considerations."

Meanwhile, Oakland's fitness problems continued as creaking starting pitcher Jose Fernandez came out of yesterday's 5-3 win over Seattle with back tightness. Fortunately physio Walter Proofplasters ruled him day to day and he should be fit for his next start. Alejandro Gusman has now returned to the active roster after his injury, where he will resume regularly committing needless errors at second base.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
17 May 2026
Poor righty relief pitching threatening to undermine Oakland's playoff charge
By Hugh G. R. Ray, bad pitching correspondent

It has been a great start to the season for the world champion A's, but disappointing performances from the bullpen, particularly the right-handed relievers, are making things more difficult than they might be. A hat-trick of the hopeless hurlers - Franyel Casadilla, Juan Gonzalez and serial incompetent Johnny Jackson - are all taking more than their fair share of punishment and have FIPs north of 5.00.

Their latest triumph came in last night's 6-3 defeat at home to the Toronto Blue Jays, when Gonzalez contrived to retire only two of six batters he faced, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks. Club insiders says that Paulie Beane and team sabermetrician Mike Rosoft-Excel are not yet ready to attempt trade moves to address this weakness, citing the pitchers' high BABIPs and the team's successful 23-14 record.

Another option for Beane is to promote minor league righty starter Aaron Sanchez into the pen, but that is now off the table for a few days. Starter Karl Dickson was suspended by the league for nine days following his altercation in last night's game with Toronto centre fielder Lewis Lydell which started a brawl, meaning Sanchez will now be needed in the rotation, to take Dickson's next start. "Why a starting pitcher would brawl with a batter during a game is beyond me", said Beane. "If you want to get a batter back, just do the obvious thing and hit him in the shins with a pitch next time you face him. Daft plank."

In better news for Oakland, shortstop Josh Morgan returns tomorrow from the disabled list and will go straight back into the lineup.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
2 June 2025
A's take shortstop Liam Brown in amateur draft
By Rookie Wilson, player draft correspondent

Oakland general manager Paulie Beane broke the habit of a lifetime and, get this, actually drafted a batter with his first pick in the player draft. Yes, that's not a typo, you read that right. A batter. Not a pitcher, for once. An actual real life computer-generated fictitious batter. He chose shortstop Liam Brown (19/R/1*), a contact hitter who has good defensive skills across the infield positions and in the corner outfield spots, with the 24th selection in round one.

Insiders say that making this choice brought Beane out in a cold sweat and he was violently sick in a corner of the Coliseum's drafting room. Even one of his nerve-settling triple whiskies couldn't sort him out. He started to recuperate, however, when, with Oakland's second pick, field manager Phil D'Manager leant into the phone and chose righty Venezuelan reliever Sergio Chavez (23/R/0.5*), presumably no relation to former president Hugo. Beane's rehabilitation inside the increasingly vomit-scented room was completed when the A's then chose promising reliever Armando Rodriguez (21/L/0.5*) in round three, whose potential may have been underrated by other clubs because he was classified for the draft as a closer. The amazing A's farm system now contains 12 minor league pitchers who their scout projects to 3* ability or higher. Their remaining draft picks aren't even worth mentioning, but all the best to them in their future unfulfilled brief careers anyway.

The youngsters join a club that is surging with confidence. Oakland have been fantastic in June when their relief pitching hasn't literally thrown games away, and are 15-6 over their last 21 games. That run has carried them to a 33-18 record as of yesterday, giving them a four game lead in the American League West and the best record in Major League Baseball. No one would bet against a four-peat right now.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
11 June 2026
Tensions boil over in Oakland back office
By Anne Gree, ill-tempered confrontations correspondent

Oakland's GM, Paulie Beane, and field manager, Phil D'Manager, reportedly engaged in a furious war of words last night after their side's 4-3 defeat to the Chicago White Sox. Beane made the rare move of travelling with the A's team to the Windy City for their 3-game series at Cellular Field, and probably now regrets doing so.

Sources say that Beane was incensed when D'Manager removed starting pitcher Karl Dickson after only 3.1 innings of work, having given up 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks. D'Manager put in highly-rated young reliever Roy Ellis, only to see him allow 3 runs in the 5th inning. Those runs proved the difference in the game. Dickson did not appear to have picked up an injury.

Beane is said to have told D'Manager, at excessively high volume, that he "did not want to get into a Billy Beane / Art Howe ding-dong battle about team selection with you" and he would "bleeding well manage the sodding games bloody myself if it didn't slow down an MLB Manager's progress so much", and raged about "how frustrating it is to have an entirely fictitious stand-up shouting match with an entirely fictitious person."

The tensions between the pair allegedly began last October with some of D'Manager's questionable decisions during the World Series. Victory in the fall classic seemed to have swept those under the carpet, but clearly they have been simmering beneath the surface all along and are back. This situation could be fun to watch, and generate some juicy articles for this newspaper, which goodness knows desperately needs to increase its circulation.

Oakland currently remain atop the American League West division, with a 39-22 win-loss line.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
22 June 2026
Cruz called up as Hawkins becomes latest injury casualty
By Ann Culsprain, minor injuries correspondent

Attention has been focused on the work of Oakland's baserunning coach, Dai Vintofirst, after left fielder Dennis Hawkins became the latest player to be put on the disabled list after injuring himself running the bases. Hawkins suffered a sprained ankle when the clumsy plum collided with the opposing first baseman, whose name I can't be bothered to research, in yesterday's 3-0 win over useless basket-cases Los Angeles Angels. He is estimated to be out for four weeks.

Welshman Vintofirst has been present on the coaching staff throughout Oakland's three-peat run, but questions are now being asked about his training methods after yet another baserunning injury. GM Paulie Beane defended his colleague, saying "Seriously, some of these players just need to man up and try the novel new approach of actually paying attention to where they're going when running the bases."

Power-hitting left fielder Javier Cruz, drafted by the A's in the first round in 2024, comes onto the roster to take Hawkins's place as designated hitter against righty pitching. Cruz joins a team which has just gone 8-2 over three consecutive series against the Los Angeles teams. They have, as a result, surged to 47-24, and now have a 8.5 game lead in the American League West over second-placed Houston.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
23 June 2026
Cruz homers in first two major league at-bats
By E. Z. Azpie, great debuts correspondent

It's a doddle, this major league pitching. That's what 23-year-old left fielder Javier Cruz must be thinking. On an astonishing debut at this level, Cruz smashed homers in each of his first two plate appearances. Texas starter Luis C. Lopez was the embarrassed soft tosser on the receiving end of Cruz's brutal barrage, as the debutant wellied him for a 3-run homer in the 2nd inning and a 2-run shot into the bleachers the 4th. Cruz later added two walks to complete a dream first game. Oakland comfortably beat the Rangers 11-3. Cruz said, "That was fantastic, but this is baseball and I'll probably go 0-5 tomorrow."

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
1 July 2026
Sensational month as Oakland surge towards AL West title
By Hugh Will Stopthem, commanding leads correspondent

Sensational is the only word for it. Paulie Beane's Oakland A's are at it again. After having to slash their wage bill over the winter and promote younger players to balance the books, the defending champions looked to be up against it to achieve an incredible fourth straight World Series win. But so far this season, Beane's charges are making light work of things, and making a mockery of the preseason predictions of the naysayers. They have just completed a superb month of June, where they have gone 22-7, and now stand at 55-25 with a 13 game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.

Superstar Jose Fernandez has made reports of his impending demise seem decidedly premature, putting in a series of commanding displays to reach an 11-4 record with an American League-leading 2.48 ERA. Fellow starter Ambrose Bailey has the AL's second best ERA at 2.57 and is 13-2, having clearly recovered well from missing most of last year through injury. He has a remarkable 16-2 overall record for the A's. Even the usually underwhelming batting lineup has got in on the act. Catcher Jakson Reetz and third baseman Patrick Snel have put up on-base percentage marks of .845 and .912 respectively, while recent call-up Javier Cruz has made a remarkable first impression, thumping 4 homers and 12 RBIs from just 26 major league at-bats. The club have even managed to strengthen their minor league farm system.

GM Paulie Beane said, "It's a weird feeling and a bit disconcerting to not be able to make sarcastic comments about underperforming players." He refused to answer reporters' questions about continuing rumours of feuding between him and field manager Phil D'Manager. The latest suggestions of a bust-up centre around Beane's perceived worries of D'Manager over-using Reetz when he is not 100% fully fit.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
13 July 2026
Oakland supremacy rewarded with SEVEN all-star call-ups
By Dom E. Nance, great teams correspondent

General manager Paulie Beane was fairly nonplussed about it. "It's a meaningless fixture list filler. I just hope the boys don't get injured. I'll be having a fairly unpleasant and aggressive conversation with commissioner Rob Manfred-Mann if any of them come back crocked."

Spoilsport Beane's joyless remarks came after the all-star game rosters had been announced. His Oakland team have been the dominant force in the American League so far this season. They stand at 61-30, a healthy and vertigo-inducing 12.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the AL West. Only perpetually playoff-bound Minnesota Twins, who at 57-32 are headed for an amazing seventh straight AL Central crown, are anywhere near them. And that dominance was rewarded with no less (and no more) than seven A's players on the American League's all-star squad.

Jose Fernandez, so good it is worth buying an iPad just to have him in one's MLB Manager roster, earned his seventh selection. Fellow starter Rodney Stewart, closer Eric Wright, and centre fielder Eddie Holland all received their second call-ups to the annual waste-of-time-athon. Third baseman Patrick Snel, left fielder Martin Wilson (much to his surprise, let alone anyone else's) and starter Ambrose Bailey were all picked for the first time.

[Paulie123]

The Oakland Telegraph
30 July 2026
Bailey shutout keeps A's driving forward
By Master C. Lass, pitching maestros correspondent

Oakland starter Ambrose Bailey produced a 5-hit, no-walk shutout to destroy the Texas Rangers last night, as his side continued their push towards yet another postseason appearance. Bailey fanned five as he moved to a 15-3 record and 2.63 ERA. Bailey's brilliance moved Oakland to 69-33, but the Seattle Mariners are proving peskier blighters than the kids in Scooby Doo and won't go away. They are hanging in there 11 games back and keeping pace. If the A's stumble, Seattle are near enough to take advantage.

Meanwhile, rookie Javier Cruz continues to set Major League Baseball alight with his awesome, uninhibited power hitting. Stronger than an ox that has overdosed on spinach, Cruz has now swung for 9 home runs and 25 RBIs in just 28 games. The lefty has been seeing the ball like a beachball. If a righty pitcher puts it into his hot zone, the crowd immediately gets ready to catch it. He has had no trouble finding a girlfriend. The boy could be special.

General manager Paulie Beane has just one ongoing concern right now: the fifth rotation spot. Mr Funnyname, Bill Williams, did well in the spot earlier this season. But with the righties in the bullpen struggling, and prospect Nathan Hamilton being given the Big Blue Arrow award by Oakland's pitching coach, Ace Onballs, Williams was moved to help the pen and Hamilton joined the rotation. However, both Hamilton and prospect Ramon Mendoza have been tried in the role, but made a right old dog's breakfast of it, posting filthy look-the-other-way ERAs of 5.80 and 9.49 respectively. Hamilton is currently back in the role but Beane's patience with him will be short.