Elephant Rumblings: J-Willy Contract and Who’s on Third?

It’s Monday!

The work week has arrived and with it comes the news from this past weekend. Surely Jacob Wilson’s 7 year/ $70 million contract extension was the biggest story to dominate the news cycle. All anyone could talk about was the A’s locking up their prized young short stop, right?

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Wait, what’s that?

Something else big happened? Something massive that changes the course of what we thought to be true? Oh, you must be referring to the Reds signing Eugenio Suarez to a one year deal worth $15 million! Feels like a bit of a bargain bin type deal if you ask me.

Let’s be real, were the A’s ever really in the running? The past month or so of speculation has been chalk full of free agent predictions, most in which outlined how Suarez was the perfect fit for the green and gold, how his asking price would be bloated, and in result, right up the A’s alley Luis Severino-style. Yet apparently it came down to two teams: The aforementioned Cincinnati Reds and the…(cleans glasses)…Pittsburgh Pirates?

For real?

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Unless someone comes out and clarifies where everyone stood in the great ‘Geno Suarez sweepstakes of 2026, us A’s fans will have to settle for the fact that the Pirates seemed like a more promising destination. That the Cincinnati Reds are still being regarded as a better club despite the A’s possessing one of the best young cores in all of baseball.

Whatever. Something tells me we dodged a bullet. His Reds reunion will be loved. I hope he retires fat and happy.

I guess my biggest question now is, who do you see manning the hot corner for the A’s in 2026? And no, Brett Harris is not an acceptable answer. The easiest plug-in play I can think of off the top of my dome is Max “The Other Max Muncy” Muncy. But even he comes with his fair share of question marks. If we’re looking to twirl our hair with the remaining free agent market a little bit, I say what the hell? Throw Miguel Andujar a bone, and bring him back on a one year deal. Luis Severino can have his boy back, and hopefully be more of a happy camper. Not to mention, Andujar has literally done nothing but hit as a member of the A’s. I don’t care what the advanced stats say. I know what I saw and what I saw was him putting the ball in play. Plus, think of the fans! All the resident Andujeads in West Sac could froth at the mouth once again as Sweet Dreams (are made of this) by Eurythmics makes its way onto the loud speaker.

Am I living in the not-too-distant past with this one? Or is it another classic move we start to champion when he hits a walk off homer in June to extend an A’s win streak to 5? Just something to think about.

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Food for your thoughts while you take a trip around the horn…

A’s Coverage:

Athletics Sign Jacob Wilson to Extension
Athletics Community Prospect List: Nett Just Inches Out Bolte For Sixth Spot
Extensions For Everyone! (Except Kurtz)
Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts
De Vries (No. 4 overall) leads Athletics trio on Top 100 Prospects list
After monster stats as rookie, Nick Kurtz has a new number in mind: 162
Projecting Nick Kurtz after Rookie of the Year campaign
Analysts say this A’s outfielder could follow Pete Crow-Armstrong’s breakout path
Two players the A’s can steal from the Colorado Rockies
A’s prospect Mason Barnett has an atypical arm angle and an old school approach
Blogfather Sabatoges Own Wins Over Replacement Hip (And A’s Stuff)

MLB News and Interest:
Eugenio Suarez, Reds Reportedly Agree to Contract
Luis Arraez, Giants Reportedly Agree to Contract in MLB Free Agency
Shohei Ohtani Won’t Pitch at 2026 World Baseball Classic
NBA, MLB, NHL, WWE, Major Sports Leagues to Join NFL in Wearing ‘USA 250’ Uniform Patches
Red Sox Trade Jordan Hicks to White Sox
Why Francisco Lindor, Jose Altuve, More MLB Players Can’t Play in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Today in Baseball History

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Best of X:

Mike Epstein! The most famous New York-born Epstein. Please do yourself a favor and look up his nickname on baseball reference.