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Predicting Athletics biggest move before MLB trade deadline
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With a lineup filled with up-and-coming stars, the athletics /how-athletics-have-upset-expectations-with-shocking-start-to-2026-mlb-season">Athletics entered 2026 with plenty of hype. But now in the second half of the season, they haven't lived up to it.
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Entering Monday's games, the A's sit eight games back in the AL West with their 42-57 record. They're 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. While things can always turn around – see the Boston Red Sox – it's clear the Athletics will be entering the trade deadline as sellers.
The A's have plenty of big names they can offer up. Tyler Soderstrom and Shea Langeliers are a few talents teams would be chomping at the bit to acquire. But if the Athletics are going to sell, don't expect it to be a fire sale – at least at the deadline.
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It's clear the franchise has a strong offensive core in place. Pitching has casted a dark cloud over the A's at large as their 5.33 ERA is the second-worst mark in MLB. Trading away players such as Soderstrom and Langeliers would in theory massively boost the Athletics' future pitching staff.
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But at the same time, it would take a massive bite out of what the A's are building on offense. The franchise may wait until the offseason before pulling off any franchise-altering trades.
The Athletics will be sellers at the deadline. But as Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports, expect to see more small deals rather than a blockbuster.
"Should the A's drop even further in the standings as we approach August, they may have no choice but to sell," Gallegos wrote. "It wouldn't be a full blowup, as there is still a young core of talent in place with controllable contracts that the club still believes in.
"The A's would surely get calls on some of their young stars like All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers, who unlike Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom remains without a contract extension to this point," he continued. "But their version of selling would probably be on a smaller scale, with veterans such as Mark Leiter Jr . and Jeff McNeil likely on the table in that scenario."
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Athletics will trade RP Mark Leiter Jr.
Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The A's have already started selling by dealing veteran Aaron Civale to the Chicago Cubs . Relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr will soon be next, seeing as he is a free agent after the season. It isn't the most exciting trade prediction, but it would be a shock to see Leiter remain with the Athletics through the deadline.
Over his first 36 appearances with the Athletics, Leiter holds a 4.28 ERA and a 38/11 K/BB ratio. He has been strong as of late, not allowing a run in his last six outings. The right-hander hasn't allowed more than a single run in his last 18 appearances.
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Alongside his current hot streak, Leiter offers any acquiring team a battle-tested veteran presence. He has been in the league seven years, appearing in 306 games. Overall, Leiter has put up 4.57 ERA and a 434/142 K/BB ratio.
The Athletics are sure to get trade calls on a number of players leading up to the deadline. But amongst them all, Leiter is the most likely to be actually dealt.
Related: MLB rumors: Yankees, Dodgers will take note of A's All-Star trade possibility
Related: Cubs acquire veteran starter in trade with Athletics
