A’s Begin Extension Talks with Young Core as Winter Meetings Wrap

The Oakland A’s didn’t make much noise at this year’s Winter Meetings – at least not publicly. But just before the week wrapped up, they managed to sneak in a signing, inking right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. to a deal.

It wasn’t a headline-grabber, but it was a move. And more importantly, it signaled that the A’s front office wasn’t just lounging poolside in Florida – they were laying groundwork.

Behind the scenes, it appears the A’s were doing something arguably more important than any single transaction: they were initiating contract extension talks with their young stars. That’s a big deal for a franchise that’s long been associated with developing talent – and then watching it walk out the door.

General Manager David Forst confirmed that the team has already made offers to some of its younger players, though he didn’t name names.

“Without naming anyone, we’ve made offers,” Forst said. “We’re having conversations here. I’m hopeful we’ll make progress.”

That’s a notable shift in tone. For a team that’s often been reactive when it comes to player retention, the A’s are now trying to get ahead of the curve. And it starts with two names fans are already circling as franchise cornerstones: American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz and runner-up Jacob Wilson.

These two first-round picks didn’t just flash potential in 2025 – they delivered. And with five years of team control remaining on both, the A’s are in a position of strength.

But here’s the catch: waiting too long often means losing leverage. Let these guys keep producing without locking them up, and suddenly you’re staring down arbitration years and then free agency, where the open market becomes very real – and very expensive.

If the A’s truly believe Kurtz and Wilson are the foundation of their next playoff team, they’ll need to show it with more than just praise. That means dollars. And for a franchise with a well-earned reputation for frugality, that’s no small task.

The good news? The timeline might be right. With the team preparing to move into a brand-new ballpark in Las Vegas, there’s at least a narrative – and maybe a financial incentive – for ownership to start spending in ways it hasn’t before.

Now, let’s be clear: any long-term deal for Kurtz or Wilson would be a record-breaker for the franchise. The current high-water mark is still Luis Severino’s $67 million guaranteed deal. That’s not a particularly high bar in today’s MLB landscape, but it would still represent a significant philosophical shift in Oakland’s approach to roster building.

And it wouldn’t just be about keeping talent – it would be about changing perception. Around the league, the A’s have long been seen as a team unwilling to spend to compete.

Locking up one or both of these young stars would send a clear message: things are different now. Or at least, they’re trying to be.

Beyond Kurtz and Wilson, there are other names in the conversation. Catcher Shea Langeliers is entering his first year of arbitration and is expected to see a salary bump of over $4 million.

He’s still three years away from free agency, but he’s steadily improved each season. The challenge?

He’ll be 31 when he hits the open market – an age when teams tend to hesitate on long-term deals for catchers.

If the A’s want to keep Langeliers around, they might look to a deal similar to the one the Royals gave Salvador Perez – four years, $82 million – though Perez had the accolades and postseason hardware to back it up. Langeliers isn’t quite there yet, but he’s carved out a role and earned respect behind the plate.

Then there’s Tyler Soderstrom. His path has been less straightforward – drafted as a catcher, moved to first base, and now settling into left field.

But he’s answered every challenge, and in 2025, he looked like a player ready to stick. He even earned a Gold Glove finalist nod in his first full year in the outfield.

That’s not nothing. With four years of control left, the A’s have time, but if he continues to develop, waiting might only drive the price up.

And don’t sleep on Denzel Clarke. The athletic, Gold Glove-caliber center fielder is still early in his big league journey, but that might actually work in the A’s favor.

Young players often jump at the chance to secure guaranteed money before they’ve fully established themselves. Of course, that can be a double-edged sword – high-reward if he breaks out, but high-risk if he doesn’t quite pan out.

So, what’s the takeaway here?

No one’s signing on the dotted line just yet. But the A’s are doing something we haven’t seen from them in a while: they’re trying to keep their guys.

Not just for a few more years, but for the long haul. And that’s significant.

Because for too long, being an A’s fan has meant falling in love with players only to say goodbye just as they hit their prime.

These conversations aren’t happening by accident. They’re a signal that the organization is at least attempting to evolve.

Whether that translates into real commitments remains to be seen. But the groundwork is being laid.

And for a fanbase that’s been through a lot – from roster teardowns to relocation drama – even the hint of long-term stability is worth watching.

So, is the next A’s lifer already on the roster? Time will tell. But at least the front office is finally asking the right questions – and maybe, just maybe, ready to write some checks.