Oakland Athletics: Checking in with some offseason updates
The Oakland Athletics, by all metrics, had a successful 2018 campaign — let’s take a look at some offseason updates.
The Oakland Athletics 2018 postseason hopes seemed to be over as quickly as they’d been born. One second, the team was celebrating with champagne showers in Seattle. The next, their dreams were crushed by the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card game.
After losing to the Yanks by a score of 7-2, the A’s headed back to Oakland. They may have ended the 2018 season without the World Series trophy in their hands, but that did not mean that other hardware was not coming their way.
A season that was plagued with injuries and was widely projected to be another rebuilding year for the A’s turned out to be a 97-win season. This marked the A’s first winning season since 2014.
More from Oakland Athletics
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- Oakland Athletics end perfect game, still lose Game 1 of Wild Card round
- Oakland Athletics: Jesus Luzardo will start Game 1 of Wild Card round
- Oakland Athletics clinch first AL West title since 2013
- Oakland Athletics: Can Jamb Lamb save the restructured infield?
For a team that was assumed to end up at the bottom of the American League West, their 2018 was not half bad.
Since the A’s offseason has began, many accolades and awards have come their way.
Manager, Bob Melvin was named Sporting News’ 2018 MLB Manager of the Year. Melvin has also been announced as a finalist for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Manager of the Year award.
The other two finalists for the BBWAA AL Manager of the Year include 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox manager, Alex Cora and Tampa Bay Rays manager, Kevin Cash.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, Nov 13.
If Melvin wins the BBWAA Manager of the Year award, it will be his third overall. He won this award in 2012 after the A’s stunning, Bernie leaning season, as well as in 2007 when he led the Diamondbacks to a National League West title.
After leading his team to a 97-65 season and a playoff berth, these acknowledgments come as no surprise. But,breakout players on the field have been recognized as well.
The corners are not only green, but double the gold this season. A’s first baseman, Matt Olson and A’s third baseman, Matt Chapman were both named American League Gold Glove winners by Rawlings.
This comes as no surprise. Olson’s fielding percentage this season was .995%. Chapman’s fielding percentage this season was .959%. Both Matt’s were incredibly key to the A’s season both offensively and defensively.
Olson and Chapman’s Gold Gloves mark the first time an A’s player has received the award since 2012, when outfielder Josh Reddick took home the hardware. They are also the first Oakland infielders to win the award since prized A’s 3rd baseman, Eric Chavez in 2006.
The last A’s duo to both win Gold Glove’s in the same season were Dwayne Murphy and Alfredo Griffin in 1985.
Chapman has also just been named the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winner for 2018. This award is fan voted on Rawlings’ website.
Candidates for the Platinum Glove consist of all the season’s Gold Glove winners. Chapman’s high school teammate, Nolan Arenado took home the Platinum Glove for the National League. Chapman is the first A’s player to ever win a Platinum Glove.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
The fact that two of Oakland’s bright young stars won a Gold Glove in their first full year of playing in the big leagues is incredibly promising.
Going behind the scenes and into the front office, we have another winner. A’s Vice President of Baseball Operations, Billy Beane was named 2018 MLB Executive of the Year.
This is the first year that the MLB has given out this honor. Beane won Sporting News’ Executive of the Year Award in both 1999 and 2012.
Melvin, Beane, and A’s General Manager David Forst were all signed to contract extensions at the end of October. Although not technically an award, this will hopefully be rewarding for all A’s fans.
Melvin is now signed through 2021, with an option for 2022. Forst is signed through 2023. According to A’s beat writer at the San Francisco Chronicle, Susan Slusser, the terms of Beane’s deal remains unknown at this time.
One A’s player who seemed to get snubbed this offseason is outfielder and powerhouse home run smasher, Khris Davis.
After a 48 home run and 123 RBI season, Davis was curiously not awarded a Silver Slugger Award and was not named as a finalist for AL MVP.
Next. San Francisco Giants Farm System Improved, Still Needs Work. dark
After a whirlwind season, A’s fans are finally able to look ahead to the future. Oakland has locked down their front office staff and manager. Home grown players are being recognized as well.
WIth accolades being given on the field and off, 2019 is looking bright for the boys in the white cleats.