The first two weeks of Cactus League games are in the books for the Athletics, and while there is much less competition for roster spots than the past few years, there are still a few position battles that need some resolving.
Backup catcher gained some clarity with Kyle McCann and Daniel Susac recently reassigned to Minor League camp. On the pitching side, however, there is not much separation for the fifth starter spot.
Here¡¯s the latest projection for the A¡¯s 26-man roster:
Catcher (2): Shea Langeliers, Jhonny Pereda
Displaying strong durability by appearing in 254 games behind the plate over the past two seasons, Langeliers is entrenched as the A¡¯s primary catcher. Who begins the season as his backup remains up in the air. Pereda, whom the A¡¯s claimed off waivers from the Marlins last month, is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. Former top prospect Tyler Soderstrom, drafted in 2020 as a catcher, is another possibility.
First base (1): Soderstrom
He generated some momentum last season by slashing .250/.310/.485 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs over his final 37 games. After limited playing time over his first two big league seasons, the 23-year-old Turlock native should be in line for more of an everyday role in 2025.
Second base (2): Zack Gelof, Luis Urías
Gelof battled an oblique injury in what was a difficult follow-up to his impressive 2023 rookie campaign and still ended up with 17 homers and 25 stolen bases. The A¡¯s fully believe the 25-year-old can get back on track this season. Ur¨ªas is a new addition who was signed to a Major League deal early in camp. He has been getting reps at second and third base and will likely back up those two spots to begin the season.
Third base (1): Gio Urshela
Urshela has consistently graded out as an above-average defender at the hot corner over the past several seasons, making him an ideal candidate to man third base on an everyday basis for an A¡¯s club that went through multiple players at the position last season and struggled to find a consistently reliable option.
Shortstop (1): Jacob Wilson
After slashing .401/.446/.606 over 337 Minor League plate appearances, Wilson got his feet wet in the Majors last season and demonstrated his impressive tools -- both offensively and defensively. He should hit the ground running in 2025 as the A¡¯s starting shortstop.
Outfield (5): Brent Rooker, Miguel Andujar, Seth Brown, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler
Rooker emerged as one of the game¡¯s elite hitters last season by hitting .293 with a .927 OPS, 39 home runs and 112 RBIs, all while playing through a forearm injury that required surgery after the season. Now fully healthy, he is expected to see more time in left field this upcoming season in addition to designated hitter. Brown is a versatile power threat who should see time at the corner-outfield spots and first base. Bleday and Butler enjoyed breakout campaigns and will enter the year with starting spots in center and right. Andujar could alternate with Rooker at DH. Speedster Esteury Ruiz is another option here, but he appears to be the odd man out at this point.
Utility (1): Max Schuemann
Schuemann went through a stretch as the A¡¯s starting shortstop last season prior to Wilson¡¯s arrival and ultimately demonstrated his value as a super-utility player by logging time at second, third and all three outfield spots.
Starting pitchers (5): Luis Severino, JP Sears, Jeffrey Springs, Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes
The A¡¯s addressed their rotation in a major way this offseason by adding a pair of veterans in Severino and Springs. With the durable Sears also a lock and Bido well ahead for the fourth spot, the final rotation slot appears to be narrowing down to Estes and Mitch Spence. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could enter the rotation picture later this season.
Relievers (8): Spence, Grant Holman, Noah Murdock, T.J. McFarland, Michel Otañez, Tyler Ferguson, José Leclerc, Mason Miller
Miller returns as the closer after a stellar 2024 All-Star campaign as a rookie. Newcomer Leclerc figures to slot into a high-leverage role along with Ferguson, Ota?ez and McFarland. Murdock was a Rule 5 selection this winter, which means he must make the team out of Spring Training and remain with the club for the entire season or be offered back to his original club in the Royals. Spence will likely land a spot in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever, a role he performed at the beginning of last season, if he does not open in the rotation.