Relief Market Heats Up While A’s Remain Patient – But Is Time Running Out?

While things have been relatively quiet in Oakland, the rest of the league is moving full steam ahead – especially when it comes to the bullpen arms. The free agent relief market has been buzzing, and a wave of signings over the past week has reshaped the landscape. For a team like the A’s, operating on a tight budget and in need of bullpen stability, the options are starting to thin out.

Let’s start with what’s already off the board. In just the last few days, we’ve seen a flurry of deals that took several notable relievers out of the A’s potential price range.

Kyle Finnegan landed a two-year, $19 million contract with Detroit. The Tigers doubled down by also bringing in veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $11 million deal.

Gregory Soto signed for $7.75 million, while Tyler Rogers secured a three-year, $37 million payday. Those are solid backend arms, and they’re now off the table.

At the top of the market, Edwin Díaz reset the bar entirely. The Dodgers, fresh off a World Series title, locked him up for three years and $66 million – a record-setting deal for a reliever. Meanwhile, Robert Suarez grabbed $45 million over three years from Atlanta, showing that elite bullpen arms are being valued accordingly.

And the market didn’t slow down yesterday either. Four more arms came off the board – all of whom could’ve made sense for the A’s.

The division-rival Angels made two moves, signing lefty Drew Pomeranz (a familiar face in Oakland) and former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano. Both came at affordable one-year deals – $4 million for Pomeranz, $2 million for Romano.

The Cubs brought back Caleb Thielbar, and the Reds added Caleb Ferguson. Both are left-handers who could’ve added balance and experience to an A’s bullpen that’s short on both.

Veteran Chris Martin also signed, though he reportedly would’ve only returned to the mound for the Texas Rangers. Still, it’s another name off the board.

Now, it’s not like the A’s have been completely idle. They did make a move, agreeing to terms with right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. on a one-year, $3 million deal.

It’s a solid addition – Leiter brings six years of big-league experience and should help stabilize the middle innings. He’s not a shutdown closer, but he raises the floor of a bullpen that desperately needed a veteran presence.

But here’s the reality: If the A’s plan to roll into Opening Day with this bullpen as-is, it’s a risky proposition. There’s no clear closer, no proven late-inning stopper, and not a lot of depth. In a 162-game grind, that’s a recipe for trouble – especially for a team that’s trying to build momentum and avoid another season buried at the bottom of the standings.

So what’s left?

Well, not much – at least not in terms of high-upside, affordable options. Pete Fairbanks is arguably the best remaining free agent reliever, but with multiple teams reportedly interested, the price tag might climb out of Oakland’s comfort zone.

Shawn Armstrong is another quality arm, but he’s said to prefer a return to Texas. Luke Weaver’s name is floating out there too, but like Armstrong, he’s leaning toward a reunion – in his case, with the Yankees.

If the A’s want to take a flier, there are a couple of veteran names still available. Kirby Yates will be 39 on Opening Day.

David Robertson? He’ll be 41.

Both have closing experience, but at this stage in their careers, they’re more lottery tickets than sure things.

And then there’s the trade market. It’s always an option, but the sense right now is that Oakland may be prepared to head into Spring Training with an open competition for the closer’s role.

That’s not unheard of – and it’s not necessarily a bad approach – but it does leave a lot to chance. There are some intriguing arms in the system, but none are proven.

That means manager Mark Kotsay could be facing another uphill battle trying to piece together a bullpen on the fly, just like he did last season.

And without someone like Mason Miller to anchor the backend this time around, the challenge might be even steeper.

So while the rest of the league is locking in their late-inning plans, the A’s are playing the long game – or maybe just the patient one. Whether that pays off or leaves them scrambling come April remains to be seen.

One thing’s for sure: the clock is ticking, and the market isn’t waiting around.