Athletics: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Athletics News / Stadium Rant / January 10

MLB Free Agency Deadline Is Another Stupid Idea By Rob Manfred

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he is in favor of an MLB Free Agency deadline, especially with how slow things seem to be moving this offseason.

Jeff McNeil News / Oakland Athletics on SI / January 10

How Does Jeff McNeil Project in His First Season Outside of New York?

Back in December, the A's made a pretty sizable upgrade at second base, acquiring Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets, and it didn't cost them a whole lot to do so, with DSL righty Yordan Rodriguez going back to New York.

Athletics News / Stadium Rant / January 10

MLB 2026 Power Rankings: Toronto’s Torrid Offseason Looming Large Early

The MLB is nearly a month away from the first pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, unofficially kicking off the 2026 season. As of Jan. 9, the first of many power rankings appeared online, showing who might have the upper edge at the start of the season.

Jason Giambi News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'MLB Home Run Derby champions' quiz

MLB held its inaugural Home Run Derby event at the 1985 MLB All-Star Game. How many of the winners can you name in five minutes?

The 'Home run leaders by MLB franchise' quiz

The 'Active MLB home run leaders' quiz

The 'Most home runs by a switch hitter' quiz

Athletics News / Oakland Athletics on SI / January 10

Pittsburgh Pirates Swap with A's That Makes Sense For Both Clubs

The Pittsburgh Pirates could use some bats, and the A's are still looking to add some pitching this winter, so how likely is it that these clubs come together on a deal?

NFL News / Yardbarker

The 25 most memorable sports plays of 2025

When it comes to unforgettable plays within the 2025 sports calendar, this was truly a special year. Here's our rankings of the 25 best.

Gage Jump News / Oakland Athletics on SI / January 9

A's Begin the Year With Big Jump in Power Rankings

While it's still early January, it's never too early to start getting ready for the upcoming season. Pitchers and catchers are reporting in just over a month, after all.

Athletics News / Last Word On Sports / January 8

2026 MLB Arbitration Tracker: Complete List of Deadline Day Settlements

MLB’s Arbitration deadline has officially passed, culminating in a flurry of activity that saw dozens of arbitration-eligible players reach one-year and multi-year contract agreements with their clubs.

Athletics News / MLB on ClutchPoints / January 8

Braves claim Athletics pitcher, DFA infielder with latest roster moves

The Atlanta Braves continued reshaping their roster Thursday, making a pair of calculated moves tied to pitching depth and 40-man flexibility. The Braves claimed a left-handed arm off waivers while opening a roster spot, signaling a low-risk approach to reinforcing organizational depth ahead of spring training.

Athletics News / Oakland Athletics on SI / January 8

Atlanta Braves Claim Intriguing Former Top Prospect From A's

The hope was that the A's could sneak him through waivers, but on Thursday the team announced that left-hander Ken Waldichuk had been claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.

Athletics News / MLB Trade Rumors / January 8

Braves Claim Ken Waldichuk, Designate Vidal Brujan

The Braves have claimed left-hander Ken Waldichuk off the Athletics’ waiver wire, as announced by both teams. Infielder Vidal Brujan was designated for assignment to clear space on Atlanta’s 40-man roster.

Zack Littell News / Just Baseball / January 8

Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Zack Littell

The trend of signing a bullpen arm and transitioning them into a starter is not new. Maybe amplified recently, but not new. Zack Littell was a product of this strategy in 2024 when the Tampa Bay Rays once again worked their pitching magic, turning him from a middle-of-the-road relief pitcher to a 3.63 ERA, 3.88 FIP starter.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest pitching seasons from the modern MLB era

America's favorite pastime has more memorable performances than any sport. As such, figuring out which pitchers had the best seasons ever is no easy task.

Athletics News / MLB Trade Rumors / January 8

2026 Arbitration Tracker

Today is the deadline for players and teams to exchange figures in arbitration — an annual deadline that leads to a slew of one-year deals and, typically, a handful of multi-year deals.

Athletics News / Just Baseball / January 8

Playing GM: 3 Moves To Complete the Athletics Roster for 2026

The 2025 Athletics had, at least arguably, a top-10 offense in Major League Baseball. They only finished 12th in runs per game, but their 219 home runs ranked seventh, their .749 OPS ranked eighth, and their 105 wRC+ ranked 10th, as did their 32.3 offensive runs above average (per FanGraphs).

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NFL Playoff rushing-TD leaders' quiz

The 'Last QB to win a playoff game by team' quiz

The '2025 leading receiver by team' quiz

The 'NFL passing TD leaders by year' quiz

Athletics News / Oakland Athletics on SI / January 8

Boston Red Sox Free Agent a Fit For the A's?

While the A's haven't been terribly active this offseason, they've largely made the additions they're going to make. They've added a number of players on minor-league deals to shore up their depth, while also trading for second baseman Jeff McNeil in a salary dump from the New York Mets, and extending left fielder Tyler Soderstrom.

Athletics News / New Baseball Media / January 8

Looking at 2025-26 Mexican Winter League Numbers & Performances

With 2026 Spring Training around the corner, now seems like a good time to take a look at what went down in the winter leagues. The Mexican Winter League was home to several notable names, including the likes of Jose Urquidy, Isaac Paredes, and some other blasts from the past.

MLB News / MLB Trade Rumors / January 7

Cubs claim Ryan Rolison off waivers from the White Sox

The Cubs have claimed left-hander Ryan Rolison off waivers from the White Sox, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. The Sox designated Rolison for assignment when they needed to open a 40-man roster spot for free agent signee Sean Newcomb.

Nick Martinez News / Just Baseball / January 7

Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Nick Martinez

The career path of Nick Martinez has been filled with ups and downs. After struggling earlier in his career as a Ranger, Martinez was a somewhat early adopter of the overseas reset route.

Athletics News / MLB Trade Rumors / January 8

White Sox Among Teams Interested In Griffin Canning

The White Sox have added some depth to the rotation already this winter, signing lefties Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb to respective two-year and one-year contracts ($12MM for Kay; $4.5MM for Newcomb).

Athletics News / MLB on ClutchPoints / January 6

Athletics denied Vegas trademark due to being ‘too generic’

The Athletics’ planned move to Las Vegas encountered an unexpected obstacle Tuesday, as a key branding effort tied to the relocation hit a legal roadblock.

Athletics News / Field Level Media / January 6

Report: Trademark application denied for 'Las Vegas Athletics'

The Athletics have been playing Major League Baseball for more than 100 years and yet the longevity was not enough to secure a new trademark in advance of the franchise's future move to Las Vegas.

Athletics News / Yardbarker / January 7

Athletics run into unexpected roadblock in Las Vegas move

Trademarking the name of a professional sports team is usually a formality. That is not the case with the Athletics.

Yankees have Cody Bellinger problem

Blue Jays reportedly targeting top free agent Kyle Tucker amid Bo Bichette saga

Kyle Schwarber brutally rejected one team in free agency

Phillies prove their desire to move on from Nick Castellanos with latest target

Tigers trade Justyn-Henry Malloy to Tampa Bay Rays

Red Sox sign Kutter Crawford to new deal to avoid arbitration

Athletics News / EasySportz / January 6

Curt Cignetti is Revolutionizing Football at Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — College football loves a good Cinderella story. It loves them so much, in fact, that it often refuses to let them grow up. Indiana, under Curt Cignetti, has officially outgrown the label.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 current MLB players who will end up in the Hall of Very Good

When it comes to MLB players, there’s a lot of talk about the Hall of Fame. Which players are going to make it? Will somebody like Mike Trout or Shohei Ohtani end up unanimously elected?

25 notable MLB Hall of Famers who never won a World Series

25 current NFL players who will end up in the Hall of Very Good

25 current NBA players who will end up in the Hall of Very Good

25 current NHL players who will end up in the Hall of Very Good

Legendary Hall of Fame athletes who only played for one franchise

Athletics News / Yardbarker / December 31