The Oakland Athletics are actively pursuing ways to enhance their roster and significantly raise their payroll. Aiming for a .500 record of 81 wins and 81 losses next season, the organization’s groundwork for achieving this ambition starts now. With the impending relocation to Sacramento set to last for the next three to four years, the front office faces uncertainty regarding the willingness of free agents to join the team. Therefore, leveraging trades may present the most practical strategy for bolstering the team’s performance in 2025 and beyond. Notably, there is speculation that the A’s could play a role in assisting the New York Yankees.
If the A’s were to pursue LeMahieu, it wouldn’t be to play first base, however. Instead, the A’s could have him serve as their answer at third base for the next year or two, and if he gets injured, then that just opens up more opportunity for guys like Darell Hernaiz, Max Schuemann, Brett Harris, or Max Muncy to take hold of the position down the line.
LeMahieu may not be what he once was with the bat, he still hit .243 with a .327 OBP, 15 homers and a .717 OPS in 2023, which is a solid league-average bat. In contrast, the A’s used six different players at third base in 2024 who combined for a 79 wRC+, or 21% below league average. He would be an upgrade.
The real kicker for LeMahieu is his defense, which has been terrific. Since Baseball Savant introduced Fielding Run Value back in 2016. LeMahieu has ranked as a top-30 defender overall while racking up over 2,000 innings at the hot corner. Over the past three seasons, he has accumulated a +5, +3, and another +5 in Outs Above Average at the position. The A’s want to get better defensively heading into 2025, and LeMahieu certainly ticks that box.
While shedding his contract wouldn’t help keep them out of the danger zone, it would be a cost-cutting measure that would make it just a little easier financially.
The main question in a potential trade would be whether the Yankees see themselves as able to cobble together a solid roster without him, and what kind of a return the A’s would be looking at in order to take on that contract.
If the A’s asked for two prospects, say New York’s No. 11 and 21 guys on MLB Pipeline, there may be a deal to be had. The Yankees No. 11 prospect is Henry Lalane, a 6-foot-7, 20-year-old left-hander that is going to take years to develop, but has some solid potential.
The No. 21 prospect, Roc Riggio, was teammates with Max Muncy in High School, and having three Thousand Oaks High players on the big league roster would be a fun story, with Riggio and Muncy theoretically joining Jacob Wilson. Riggio is listed as a second baseman who stole 27 bases in High-A last season and is seen as a potential 20-homer guy.
In return, the A’s would have to give a little something up, potentially a combo deal that includes Seth Brown along with one of the third base options–particularly Hernaiz or Brett Harris.
The trade pieces themselves are purely guesswork, but the framework of a deal that involves DJ LeMahieu ending up with the A’s makes some sense for both clubs.
