Which A's will make an impact in 2025?

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

In addition to providing insight on the Athletics' plans for improving the club this offseason, the Winter Meetings in Dallas this past week were also an opportunity to provide updates on players currently on the roster who are expected to make in impact in 2025.

One of the more intriguing storylines for this upcoming season will center around the progress of No. 1 prospect (MLB Pipeline's No. 24 overall) Jacob Wilson, who enters a season in which he projects to be the club’s everyday shortstop with some injury concerns after dealing with knee and hamstring issues in 2024. A’s manager Mark Kotsay and general manager David Forst discussed Wilson and others earlier this week:

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Kotsay on the strength program for Wilson this offseason

“That’s a been a big emphasis for Jacob, to get in the weight room and to really focus on the strength side of things, as well as the flexibility. Jacob’s hamstrings have been tight. There’s some areas to address that we feel like we can help him in that area. He’s working with our strength coach Josh Cuffe in Arizona. He’s training out of our Spring Training facility, which is great so we can continue to work with him and monitor his progress.

"It will be interesting because Jacob hasn’t played a 162-game schedule. In the Minor Leagues now with the adjustments they’ve made with getting a day off every Monday, you don’t get the rigors of a 13-day stretch where you don’t get a break. That’s going to be different for Jacob. We’re going to have to kind of monitor his workload and see how we can keep him healthy and on the field for as many games as possible.”

Forst on the health of A’s No. 8 prospect Max Muncy, who could be in the mix for the club's open third-base job

“He’s actually down at the complex this week and next week just doing some baseball activity. His hand is feeling really good. … I think it’s obvious, Jacob has shortstop for now. I think Max will get time at both second base and third base in big league camp.”

Forst on the starting rotation outlook following the signing of Luis Severino

“[JP Sears] is the only guy who has gone out and done it 30-plus times a couple of years in a row. I think you assume he’s in there with Luis. After that, I think we have a good group to choose from. I would say [Osvaldo Bido] performed really well. He’s certainly at the top of that next group. Between [Mitch Spence], [Joey Estes], [J.T. Ginn], those guys all showed they’re capable. It’s just a matter of being consistent. But it’s nice to have that group from a depth standpoint. Then, not far behind, you’re talking about [Mason Barnett] and [Jack Perkins] as kind of the next group.

"We signed Jason Alexander, who I think will have a really good opportunity to try and make the rotation. I think you know going in you’re going to need a group of eight to 10 guys to start. We are still talking to free-agent starting pitchers.”

Forst's comments were made before the A's acquired left-handers Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez from the Rays on Saturday.