The Oakland A’s have a plethora of young outfielders on their roster, with more prospects on the way. Currently, it looks like Seth Brown will share a platoon role with newcomer Miguel Andújar to start the season, assuming Lawrence Butler, part of the A’s future core, begins in the minor leagues.
As it stands, the A’s outfield lineup would likely include Brown/Andújar in left or right field, Esteury Ruiz in center, and JJ Bleday in the other corner. This setup already includes four outfielders, with Brent Rooker also available, providing the A’s with numerous options even without Butler on the roster.
Given the roster’s depth, it wouldn’t be surprising if the A’s traded an outfielder. Brown, projected to be the third-highest-paid player at $2.3 million via arbitration and with three years of team control left, could be a candidate for trade. Moving Brown would free up playing time for younger players in another rebuilding season for Oakland.
The Colorado Rockies appear to be a fitting trade partner for Brown, as they seek a left-handed outfielder capable of playing all three outfield spots. While Brown primarily plays the corners now, he has played center field as recently as 2021, where he performed above average defensively. Since his debut in 2019, Brown has been a reliable bat, with two above-average seasons out of three, despite a lower wRC+ of 92 in 2023.
The Rockies could also benefit from Brown’s veteran presence, and the A’s would be helping him by removing him from the ongoing relocation turmoil. As one of the few veterans on the team last season, Brown frequently faced questions about Las Vegas, which likely became tiresome.
Throughout his career, Brown has hit right-handers better than lefties, with a .237 average, .305 OBP, and 116 wRC+ against right-handers. If the Rockies are interested, a trade could involve several scenarios. The A’s would likely prefer adding a pitcher unless Colorado is willing to part with Elehuris Montero, a 26-year-old third/first baseman with power potential.
If Montero isn’t available, the A’s might consider someone like Ryan Rolison, a former first-rounder who hasn’t pitched regularly since 2021 due to surgery in June 2022. Rolison, who was outrighted from the Rockies’ roster earlier this off-season, was Colorado’s number five prospect in 2022. According to MLB Pipeline, he has the potential to be a number four starter if he can stay healthy, making this a reasonable trade for both teams.
