In the most unsurprising development of the 2024 MLB season, the Oakland Athletics will not sniff the playoffs. While the July 30 trade deadline has passed, there's still time for the Athletics to cut pieces that they won't need past this season. Of course, there's no need to let go of any young and ascending players like Brent Rooker, Mason Miller, and JJ Bleday, but Oakland could save some cash on the payroll by firing a couple who aren't essential. Who are three such players for the Athletics?

Rudy Lopez knew in the moment that his 2013 Belmont Redwood Shores Little League team, a squad he had coached for several years, was special, even if it fell just short of Williamsport. A decade and change following a run that electrified the region, Lopez gained additional perspective on what the team had accomplished. “I guess it's another feather in our cap that it took a future major leaguer to beat us,” Lopez said. The future major leaguer in question is Grant Holman, who made his big-league debut for the A's this past weekend during the final Bay Bridge Series.

Rudy Lopez knew in the moment that his 2013 Belmont Redwood Shores Little League team, a squad he had coached for several years, was special, even if they fell just short of Williamsport. A decade and change following a run that electrified the region, Lopez gained additional perspective on what the team had accomplished. “I guess it's another feather in our cap that it took a future major leaguer to beat us,” Lopez said. The future major leaguer in question is Grant Holman, who made his big-league debut for the A's this past weekend during the final Bay Bridge Series.

Rudy Lopez knew in the moment that his 2013 Belmont Redwood Shores Little League team, a squad he had coached for several years, was special, even if they fell just short of Williamsport. A decade and change following a run that electrified the region, Lopez gained additional perspective on what the team had accomplished. “I guess it's another feather in our cap that it took a future major leaguer to beat us,” Lopez said. The future major leaguer in question is Grant Holman, who made his big-league debut for the A's this past weekend during the final Bay Bridge Series.

In a world of hypothetical, Dave Stewart has a no-brainer of a trade he'd like to make. Stewart was one of the best pitchers in the late 1980s, being the ace of an Oakland A's team that represented the American League in three straight World Series. The Athletics won the Fall Classic in 1989, which was marred by the infamous earthquake in the Bay Area, against their neighborhood rivals in the San Francisco Giants. Well, Stewart was asked the hypothetical of whether he'd trade that 1989 ring if it meant the team were to stay in Oakland.

A Brandon native and former Mississippi State baseball player received the call of dreams on Tuesday. JT Ginn was promoted to Major League Baseball with the Oakland Athletics, the organization announced. The right-handed pitcher has starred this season in the minor leagues, pitching 102.2 innings and recording eight wins on the mound. While at Mississippi State, the former Brandon Bulldog allowed just 3.22 earned runs in 18 starts with eight wins, 109 strikeouts, and 89.1 innings pitched.

The Tampa Bay Rays have just one run on five hits through the first two contests of their four-game series at Oakland. The limited offense, however, has been good enough for Tampa Bay to earn a split heading into Wednesday night's contest against the Athletics. The Rays bounced back from getting two-hit in a 3-0 loss in Monday's opener to post a 1-0 victory Tuesday. Shane Baz threw a career-high 7 2/3 innings to earn his first win since July 3, 2022, at Toronto, and Jose Siri snapped an 0-for-21 drought with his 15th home run of the season.

The New York Mets acquired one year of Chris Bassitt from the Oakland Athletics back in 2022, and it cost them right-handers Adam Oller and J.T. Ginn. Oller is now on the Miami Marlins after making his team debut on Monday, but Ginn has been in the minor leagues, working his way up the ladder. The Oakland A's announced that they have placed Scott Alexander on the IL with left rotator cuff tendonitis, and have called up Ginn to take his place in the bullpen.

On one side of the winning Tampa Bay clubhouse, pitcher Shane Baz celebrated his first win in more than two years after a long journey back from Tommy John surgery. Across the way stood his equally joyful catcher, Rob Brantly, holding his 8-month-old son, Bennett. Brantly had finally returned to the big leagues at age 35. "It was incredible," Brantly said as father and son smiled at each other after the Rays' 1-0 victory against the Oakland Athletics a day after he was promoted from Triple-A Durham.

Tampa Bay Rays (63-62, fourth in the AL East) vs. Oakland Athletics (54-72, fifth in the AL West) Oakland, California; Wednesday, 9:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Ryan Pepiot (6-5, 3.69 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 99 strikeouts); Athletics: Mitch Spence (7-8, 4.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 87 strikeouts) : LINE Rays -132, Athletics +112; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics host the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Oakland has a 54-72 record overall and a 31-32 record at home. The Athletics rank fourth in the AL with 155 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game. Tampa Bay has a 63-62 record overall and a 29-28 record on the road. The Rays are 23-14 in games decided by one run. Wednesday's

Jose Siri homered with two outs in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless pitchers' duel and help Shane Baz earn his first victory in more than two years, and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Oakland Athletics 1-0 on Tuesday night. Baz (1-2) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked three over a career-best 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since July 3, 2022, at Toronto. The right-hander missed the 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. "It's tough," Baz said of his journey back.

Brandon grad and former Mississippi State pitcher J.T. Ginn has been called up to Major League Baseball. The Oakland Athletics selected his contract Tuesday in a corresponding move with placing another pitcher on the 15-Day Injured List.

Jose Siri homered with two outs in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless pitchers' duel and help Shane Baz earn his first victory in more than two years, and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Oakland Athletics 1-0 on Tuesday night. Baz (1-2) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked three over 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since July 3, 2022, at Toronto. The right-hander missed the 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Siri's solo drive to center for his 15th home run chased Oakland starter Joey Estes (5-6), who hung tough battling Baz as the A's drew 4,377 fans coming off shutouts in two of their last three games.

Jose Siri homered with two outs in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless pitchers' duel and help Shane Baz earn his first victory in more than two years, and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Oakland Athletics 1-0 on Tuesday night. Baz (1-2) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked three over a career-best 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since July 3, 2022, at Toronto. “It’s tough,” Baz said of his journey back.

With the Rays on Thursday set to play their final game at Oakland's Coliseum, the most vivid memory for many comes in the form of aural history. Specifically, from how deafeningly loud the stadium, packed with a raucous crowd of 54,005, was at the start of the 2019 American League Wild Card Game to how deadly quiet it became after leadoff man Yandy Diaz hit Sean Manaea's fifth pitch over the right-centerfield wall. “There were obviously lot of people,” Diaz recalled last week via team interpreter Manny Navarro, “but I think after that home run it kind of seemed like there was nobody there and it got really quiet.” “From max volume,” reliever Pete Fairbanks said, “to dead silent.”

With the Rays on Thursday set to play their final game at Oakland’s Coliseum, the most vivid memory for many comes in the form of aural history. Specifically, from how deafeningly loud the stadium, packed with a raucous crowd of 54,005, was at the start of the 2019 American League Wild Card Game to how deadly quiet it became after leadoff man Yandy Diaz hit Sean Manaea’s fifth pitch over the ...

Over the weekend we saw the final installment of the Bay Bridge Series, which ended up being split between the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. Since the inception of inter-league play back in 1997, the Bay Bridge Series has been always been about bragging rights. A's fans know plenty of Giants fans and vice versa, which always leads to a ton of smack talk, and an atmosphere at the ballpark that was just special. On the A's pregame show on Sunday, ahead of the finale, host Brodie Brazil asked A's legend Dave Stewart--who was part of the 1989 World Series team--if he would trade that championship in exchange for the team staying in Oakland.

JJ Bleday hit a two-run homer, Joe Boyle pitched six effective innings and the Oakland A's beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Monday night. Bleday got his 16th home run in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to account for all of the offense. "If I get this job done, we get a run on the board," Butler said. Boyle (3-5) limited the Rays to just two hits and three walks while striking out six.

Tampa Bay Rays (62-62, fourth in the AL East) vs. Oakland Athletics (54-71, fourth in the AL West) Oakland, California; Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Shane Baz (0-2, 4.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 32 strikeouts); Athletics: Joey Estes (5-5, 4.72 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 66 strikeouts) : LINE Rays -120, Athletics +101; over/under is 8 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics host the Tampa Bay Rays with a 1-0 series lead. Oakland has a 54-71 record overall and a 31-31 record in home games. The Athletics have a 37-11 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Tampa Bay is 62-62 overall and 28-28 in road games. The Rays have a 22-14 record in games decided by one run. The matchup Tuesday

JJ Bleday hit a two-run homer, Joe Boyle pitched six effective innings and the Oakland A's beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Monday night. Bleday got his 16th home run in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to account for all of the offense. Boyle (3-5) limited the Rays to just two hits and three walks while striking out six.