DALLAS -- Rather than waiting for the free-agent market to develop, the Athletics have shifted their approach from previous offseasons. They instead helped set the starting pitching market with the early signing of right-hander Luis Severino, and they do not plan to stop the spending there.

Sending their front office contingent to the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings this week, the A¡¯s are looking to fill the remaining holes on a roster they believe is finally ready to compete after going through a rebuild the past few years.

With Severino¡¯s addition addressing the goal of improving their starting rotation, the A¡¯s are now looking for an upgrade at third base.

Last year, the A¡¯s saw several different players cycle through the hot corner, including rookies Darell Hernaiz, Max Schuemann and Brett Harris. While those three, along with A¡¯s No. 8 prospect Max Muncy, are considered solid in-house options, there does appear to be a desire by the club to bring in a more proven third baseman.

¡°There are internal candidates and guys who have a little experience there,¡± said A¡¯s general manager David Forst. ¡°But I think it¡¯s fair to continue to look for someone with more big league experience.¡±

Where will that third baseman come from? At this point, Forst said trade chatter has been somewhat subdued while free agency began to heat up on Tuesday night.

¡°I don¡¯t know if everybody else is having the same experience as we are, but trade conversations are almost not happening,¡± Forst said. ¡°I don¡¯t pretend that our experience is universal, but it¡¯s very much about free agents, in my experience.¡±

Free-agent third basemen who could be on the A¡¯s radar include veterans Gio Urshela and Yo¨¢n Moncada. As for the trade market, Alec Bohm of the Phillies and Brett Baty of the Mets are third basemen whose names have come up in trade rumblings this offseason.

The A's also remain in search of more pitching. On that front, right-hander Michael Lorenzen and left-handers Jose Quintana and Andrew Heaney are free agents who fit the mold of the veteran starter the A¡¯s are after. MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand reported that pitchers who could be available on the trade market include San Diego¡¯s Dylan Cease, Houston¡¯s Framber Valdez and Miami¡¯s Jes¨²s Luzardo.

¡°Pitching is still a priority for us,¡± Forst said. ¡°Both those spots. We are having some trade conversations, but it really hasn¡¯t gotten us anywhere. ¡­ I¡¯d like to get another starter. But we¡¯re always on the lookout for building up the bullpen.¡±

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Speaking during his media session on Tuesday afternoon, manager Mark Kotsay echoed Forst¡¯s sentiment in that he would like to see upgrades at third base and pitching. To truly make the leap into contending in 2025, though, he also pointed out that getting the young A¡¯s talent that flashed its potential over the second half of this past season to battle through growing pains and develop consistency will also be essential.

¡°It¡¯s a different level of expectation on my end going into Spring Training with the group that we have,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°There¡¯s going to be bumps, because they still are young. ¡­ The goal is to get these guys as consistent as possible as quickly as possible. If that happens, we have a definite opportunity to make some noise in the division and compete with teams like Houston and Seattle.¡±

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? Kotsay is entering the final year of his contract. While there has been no real discussion about an extension, Kotsay reiterated his desire to remain at the helm beyond 2025.

¡°I want to see this through,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°I want to win with this group. In terms of going forward, it¡¯s not necessarily my decision but one that I would definitely be open to for the future. Right now, the focus is on going from 69 wins to a total that gets us competing through the last game of the season and have a chance to go to the postseason.¡±

? Brent Rooker might not be the only player whose contract the A¡¯s are looking to extend. Forst indicated that in addition to Rooker, the club has broached the subject of a contract extension with a few of its younger players under club contractual control.

¡°It¡¯s great that we get this opportunity to present a contract in front of him and allow him to make a decision if he wants to be here long term,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°That¡¯s something the A¡¯s really haven¡¯t had a chance to do over the last 25 years. There have been very few long-term contracts, so I think that shows itself that there¡¯s a change in direction for this organization.¡±