In a move that sent shockwaves through the baseball world, the Oakland Athletics made a splash in free agency by signing former Yankees pitcher Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract. Few expected the A’s — who are known for their frugality and rebuilding mode — to make a franchise-record signing just ahead of their planned three-year stop in West Sacramento, before ultimately moving to a new ballpark in Las Vegas. However, the deal marks a clear signal that the A’s are not just settling for a rebuild, but are actively looking to make a competitive push in the near future.
And it looks like they might not be stopping there.
In comments to reporters, including MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos, A’s manager Mark Kotsay hinted that the team could be looking to extend one of its rising stars, Brent Rooker. “We’re hopeful to get something done with Brent,” Kotsay said, adding that such a move would “continue showing a different direction for this organization in terms of making commitments to players.” The A’s manager’s comments are notable, as the team has historically been reluctant to extend players, especially given their small payroll and reputation for trading away talent when they become expensive.
The notion of locking up a player like Rooker is an intriguing one, especially for a team like Oakland. While signing younger players to extensions is a common practice across MLB, it carries particular significance for small-market teams, who often struggle to keep homegrown talent in the fold once those players approach free agency. Extending a player in their arbitration years, or even locking up a free agent year or two, can be an incredibly valuable move for a team like the A’s. It provides cost certainty and helps mitigate the risk of losing a star player to free agency, which would be a bitter blow for a club trying to stay competitive without relying on blockbuster free-agent signings.
The A’s History with Extensions
However, if the A’s decide to extend Rooker, it would be a major departure from their recent history. Over the past decade, Oakland has been remarkably averse to handing out player extensions. The team has signed just nine extensions since October 2007 — and of those, only four players received contracts longer than two years. Remarkably, the most recent extension came in 2019, when Khris Davis inked a two-year, $33.5 million deal. The A’s have rarely been willing to make long-term commitments, a philosophy that’s usually worked for them given their tight budget and penchant for developing players, only to trade them before they hit free agency.
So, an extension for Rooker would be a significant shift in philosophy for the Athletics — one that signals the front office’s intent to start building a more stable foundation for future success.
Brent Rooker’s Explosive Breakout
Brent Rooker’s story is one of the most unlikely success stories in baseball. Claimed off waivers from the Royals in November 2022, Rooker had bounced around several organizations before landing with the A’s. A former 35th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Rooker had never truly lived up to his potential in previous stints with the Twins, Padres, and Royals, hitting just .200/.289/.379 across 270 plate appearances in 2020-22.
But something clicked for Rooker when he arrived in Oakland.
In 2023, he showed glimpses of the power that made him a first-round pick, hitting 30 home runs and slashing .246/.329/.488 over 526 plate appearances. That performance wasn’t a fluke, either. Rooker followed up with an even more impressive 2024 campaign, mashing 39 home runs and posting a .293/.365/.562 slash line over 614 PA. His wRC+ of 164 was among the best in baseball, putting him in the same conversation as some of the game’s top hitters.
Rooker’s emergence as one of the top offensive players in the league has turned him into a legitimate building block for the A’s, and it’s no surprise that the club would want to lock him up before he hits his first arbitration year. While Rooker is still under team control through the 2027 season, he’s projected to earn $5.1 million in arbitration in 2025. Given his rapid rise, that number could keep climbing if he continues his elite production.
Should the A’s Extend Rooker?
From the A’s perspective, an extension could be a savvy move. With Rooker locked into his arbitration years, the team could gain some cost certainty in the event he keeps hitting at an All-Star level. It would also prevent the potential headache of losing him to free agency down the road — something the A’s have been guilty of in the past with fan favorites like Josh Donaldson, Matt Olson, and others.
However, it’s not a slam dunk. Rooker, as a 30-year-old slugger in the prime of his career, might prefer to test free agency down the line, particularly if he continues to perform at an elite level. After all, betting on himself could lead to a much larger payday down the road, particularly in a market where power hitters are highly sought after.
The A’s might not be looking for a mega-deal here. A shorter extension that covers Rooker’s arbitration years would make sense for both sides, particularly if the team is unsure about its long-term competitive window. If they can lock in a few years of Rooker at a team-friendly rate, it could prove to be a huge bargain if he continues to develop as one of the league’s top hitters.
What This Means for the A’s Future
While the A’s finished with a disappointing 93 losses in 2024, the organization is clearly showing signs of ambition moving forward. Their 33-32 record over the final 65 games of the season — combined with the unexpected signing of Severino — suggests they may be ready to take a step toward contention sooner than expected. A potential extension for Rooker would be a strong signal that the team is serious about building around their young talent, rather than just unloading it when it becomes expensive.
Whether or not Rooker ultimately signs an extension, the A’s front office is sending a message to their fans that they are serious about playing competitive baseball. And while an extension for Rooker would be a departure from Oakland’s usual strategy, it could end up being a critical step in making the team more sustainable and competitive for years to come. If the A’s continue making smart moves and their young stars like Rooker develop as expected, this could be the start of a new era in Oakland — one where the team is more willing to invest in its core players and build for sustained success.
